Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri on Monday caused a stir online with his response on the ongoing sugar probe before National Assembly’s committee on Trade, Industry and Agriculture.
The CS stated that the sweetener said to contain mercury was contaminated on transit from Brazil. He suggested that the vessels used to ferry the sweetener from the South American country of Brazil were uncleaned, open ships that had transported fertiliser and coal and this could have yielded to cross-contamination.
Besides, he threw the blame to Treasury CS Henry Rotich and Kenya Revenue Authority even as the sugar question grows weighty. Read more about this blame shifting here.
Kenyans have observed a possible scandal from CS Mwangi Kiunjuri’s revelations, or rather confessions. We take a snapshot of the continued debate over the CS’s latest words:
CS Kiunjuri, KEBS and KRA should be subject to accountability
Dear DPP, the statement that Sugar was transported like sand together with coal and fertilizer should be a cue for you to swing into action . Kenya Bereau of standards must be overhauled with immediate effect . Kenyan lives matter
— Sen Mutula KilonzoJR (@SenMutula) June 25, 2018
@CS_Kiunjuri, All along you knew this and decided to remain silent? You should be in jail right now paying for your ineffectiveness. Know that the measure you have used on Kenyans is the same measure will be used against you.
— Wema Fadhili (@Wemafadhili) June 25, 2018
"CS Kiunjuri" The situations that the country is facing now i can't trust our Institutions with the CS's who contradict on critical issues. @MigunaMiguna Let's peel off the mask now,overhaul EACC,KBS and sack the corrupt Ministers & Parastatal heads.
— CPA Kavosa Bernad(M) (@Kavosa_bena) June 25, 2018
The statement that Sugar was transported like sand together with coal, lead, mercury and fertilizer should be a cue for the relevant authorities to take action . KEBS must be overhauled with immediate effect. @CS_Kiunjuri shd explain the narrative further
At crazy time we leave— Nicky Chebbi (@nicky_chebbi) June 25, 2018
There’s more than meets the eye
According to CS Kiunjuri, a total of wait for it, 1,061,000 metric tonnes of sugar was imported into the country when treasury opened the tax free window.
Simple calculations shows that @HKRotich directive denied treasury a whooping Sh.66.3125B. #RaiStateCapture is COSTLY! pic.twitter.com/g4YAuFS9CP
— Kenya West© (@KinyanBoy) June 25, 2018
Is the MPs Committee up to the task?
Impotent and Rubber Stamp MPigs pretending they are probing "CS Kiunjuri"and #RaiStateCapture. Truth is the Committees are only interested in sitting allowances. These are yes men and women. Ata their vetting of state officers ni Bure kabisa.
— Francis Ndirangu (@zumuni) June 25, 2018
Some agriculture and trade committe members are not comfortable with CS Kiunjuri's admission that some of the imported sugar was contaminated with mercury. Most of this Mps are involved in the illegal importation of sugar and they are doing everything to cover up their games.
— Carrington Mwendwa (@CarringtonMwen1) June 25, 2018
We won’t buy into CS Kiunjuri’s school of thought
CS kiunjuri is played with our minds ,how came allowed sugar contaminated during transportation into market??This guy must be kidding us
— Cornelius Sang (@CorneliusSang10) June 25, 2018
Further contradictions from 2 CSs serving the same govt>>The last sugar destroyed was 400tones in msa belong to a Ugandan but CS Kiunjuri earlier said it belonged to diamond wholesaler yet KRA is avoiding mentioning that company. who owns diamond wholesalers?#SugarBaronsKE
— Mukami (@Mukami_Mungai) June 25, 2018