Bernard Njiraini, Managing Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), has been suspended along with 26 other officials in a sweet sugar controversy.
The officers at the Kenya Bureau of Standards were being investigated for the discharge of condemned sugar meant for industrial usage, according to a statement issued by State House on Wednesday night.
The 20,000 bags of sugar were imported in 2018 and were condemned due to their expiration date, and were destined for destruction or conversion into industrial ethanol.
However, inspectors stated that the tainted sugar had been released for public consumption despite being unsafe for ingestion, prompting President William Ruto to suspend the officials for further inquiry.
Njiraini was suspended, along with six other KEBS officials, eight from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), four police officers, and six from the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
“It has since been established that the consignment was irregularly diverted and unprocedurally released,” said Head of Public Service Felix Koskei in a statement.
“Additionally, the conditions relating to open and competitive enlistment of the distiller were breached, and the applicable taxes were not paid.”
A similar suspension occurred in the Health Ministry, when a Principal Secretary was removed, along with the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority and its board, for a multibillion-dollar mosquito nets scandal.
