Ruto’s U-Turn on Sugar Prices Sparks Controversy
Wednesday, May 24th, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mithika Linturi announced that the government will import 180,000 tonnes of sugar to protect Kenyans from rising sugar prices.
Linturi told the media that the government had decided to import the product from outside the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to ensure a sufficient supply of the item within the country.
He noted that this was due to a severe shortage of the commodity in the member states, which drove up the price.
According to Linturi, the decision was made despite the expectation that the country’s millers would provide enough sugar for consumption.
In addition, Linturi stated that the import will result in a decrease in sugar prices because it will alleviate the strain on retailers’ sugar supply.
“Because of the problem with sugar prices on the market, we are going to authorize the importation of 180,000 metric tonnes into the country to protect sugar consumers from skyrocketing prices.
“It is unfortunate because we ought to be crashing sugar from within the country that should be able to sustain our market,” Linturi said.
ALSO READ: Ultimatum Issued by Azimio: Talks at Risk of Collapse Without Key Concerns Addressed
The government previously imported the product from Common Market for Eastern and Southern African member states.
According to a report by Agriculture and Food Authority, the amount of sugar produced by local millers decreased from 49,372 metric tonnes in March 2023 to 31,970 metric tonnes in April 2023.
Between March and April, local factories reduced their inventory from 10,844 to 8,002 metric tonnes.
Earlier on Sunday, May 21, retailers warned of an unexpected sugar shortage in the country, citing it as the reason why the price of a two-kilogram packet of sugar rose from Ksh300 to Ksh415 to Ksh470 in less than a week.
Despite the high cost of living, according to the retailers, they were forced to pass on the additional cost they incurred when purchasing the product.
However, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) claimed that due to the shortage, some traders inflated the price of the commodity, causing some consumers to purchase sugar in bulk.
The action was taken against the backdrop of the ongoing crackdown on traders and government officials distributing banned sugar throughout the nation.
On Tuesday, May 23, detectives seized over sixty bags of tainted sugar and arrested a shopkeeper suspected of being a member of the cartel that illegally distributed the product in Riverside, Nairobi.
In addition, on Monday, May 22, detectives in Kisii apprehended a syndicate that repackaged confiscated sugar from Tanzania and Uganda into sacks labeled Mara, Sony, and other popular local brands.\
Ruto’s U-Turn on Sugar Prices Sparks Controversy
HEY READER. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS SITE BY CLICKING ADS. DON’T FORGET TO HIT THE NOTIFICATION BELL FOR MORE UPDATES AROUND THE GLOBE.
