How safe is it for local consumption- KUSP question Ruto’s plan to import sugar.
Speaking to the media, The Kenya union of sugar plantation, has questioned the authenticity of the sugar being imported, after it was suspected that supermarkets are restocked with contaminated sugar.
They questioned why the Agriculture Cabinet secretary, Mithika Linturi, sidelined them and went ahead to announce that the government is importing sugar, without consulting with the local millers.
They stated,”What we know from today’s government is that once a directive to import sugar is made, you will see it on the shelves being sold. There is a need to ensure that the sugar importation is done by the millers and not any other person,”
The millers argued that they have dealt with the local market for so long hence they know the demand in Kenya. It would have been better if the government had consultations with them.
They stated,”We will also be able to regulate and make sure that the sugar being imported does not affect the locally available stock,”
The Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers further stood against the government’s directive to import the sugar outside the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
They cited that by doing the above, they put the country at a great risk of contaminated sugar again.
They stated,”That sugar must be checked in terms of quality. The other day we had cases of mercury. We must be very careful on where the sugar is coming from and how safe is it for local consumption.”
CS Linturi on his part stated,”It is unfortunate because we should be crushing sugar from within the country that should be able to sustain our market.”
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