Mitchell Cotts, the company that imported the contaminated sugar worth Ksh 214 million seized at the Port of Mombasa has clarified reports by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
In a statement dated February 17, the company explained that Rehema Badi, their client, imported the said sugar from Port Louis, Mauritius with the relevant pre-shipment inspection documents ascertaining its quality.
The Company dismissed claims that the contaminated sugar has been irregularly released to the market from its facilities.
“From the onset, we assure and categorically state that no such consignment has been irregularly released to the market nor was there ever any attempt to do so,” read the statement in part.
Mitchell Cotts said the ship suffered an engine failure and ran aground on October 9,2023 but the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) marine crew managed to refloat and tow it into the port for repairs and cargo recovery.
Prior to the ship’s arrival in Mombasa, the Company had processed the relevant container transfer documents and paid the port charges as required.
Afterwards, the Company said it realized that several containers had been affected by water which had seeped into the ship during the engine breakdown.
Surveying the Sugar
The company conducted a survey which revealed that 19,441 bags were in good condition while 8,025 bags were waterlogged.
“Subsequently, a seizure notice was procedurally issued by Port Health Services Department for the 8,025 waterlogged bags from 13 containers. These were segregated and stored in our warehouses pending destruction which will be done under the supervision of the relevant authorities,” read the statement.
“The other 19,411 sound bags from 33 containers are presently also stored in warehouses awaiting the requisite laboratory and quality assurance test results from KEBS prior to release authorization by KRA,” explained Mitchell Cotts.
Mitchell Cotts emphasized that the survey was done in the presence of officials from KRA Customs Department, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), Port Health and the Ship’s Agent M/s Ocean Freight East Africa Ltd.
Also Read: Owner of Ksh214 million Sugar Seized in Mombasa Speaks
Multiagency Team
A multiagency team comprising of officials from the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), KRA, KEBS and KPA will verify the 33 containers and give a report on whether it is fit for human consumption.
If the sugar is contaminated, Badi will be given 30 days to reship the consignment back to Mauritius failure to which the team will order the destruction of the contaminated sugar.
Also Read: Relief for Kenyans as Prices of Sugar Drop
Rehema Badi’s Statement
Badi explained that she followed the legal importation process and paid all the required taxes to KRA.
She stated that only 13 out of the total containers were contaminated, adding that she even paid for the bad sugar.
As such she demanded KRA to pay back money equivalent to the 13 containers that have been declared toxic for sale.
Badi also dismissed fears that some of the contaminated sugar is already in the Kenyan market.
