AG Muturi Dismisses Allegations of Releasing Contaminated Sugar in Kenyan Market
Attorney General Justin Muturi asserts that his office and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) did not authorize the release of contaminated sugar onto the Kenyan market.
This comes a day after the acting managing director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Esther Ngari, told the National Assembly that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and the Attorney General’s office were responsible for the illegal release of contaminated sugar into the market.
In a press release issued on Friday, Attorney General Muturi stated that his office played an advisory role in the matter and that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sought legal advice on pursuing the case after the sugar was returned.
Muturi stated that the KRA had also sought legal counsel regarding the disposal of the seized sugar.
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“Earlier, this office received a request from KRA dated December 14, 2022, seeking our review, legal advice, and concurrence on the proposed method of disposal of condemned sugar, particularly on the sale by the commissioner of customs for tax recovery,” the attorney general stated.
As a result, on January 19, 2023, this office convened a meeting with KRA and KEBS leadership to discuss the issue, he explained.
“Following the meeting, this office issued a legal opinion to the KRA, copied it to the KEBS, and advised that the proposed method for disposing of the confiscated sugar was by the law.”
AG Muturi added, “This office concurred with KRA’s decision to recover import duty on the subject sugar, as the sugar was being imported for an alternative purpose, namely as a raw material for ethanol production.”
Due to the lack of clear legal guidelines regarding the handling of condemned products, he continued, “It was recommended that going forward, KRA and KEBS should work together to develop a comprehensive framework to provide for the disposal of prohibited and or condemned goods, which may nevertheless, subject to the payment of import duty, be released for alternative use with the approval and supervision of the multi-agency team.”
AG Muturi Dismisses Allegations of Releasing Contaminated Sugar in Kenyan Market
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