Owner of 'toxic sugar' reveals why sugar was packaged in Not for Sale bags

The owner of alleged poisonous sugar Jaswant Rai has for the first time addressed claims that sugar imported by his companies was unfit for human consumption.

In an exclusive interview with NTV, the Chairman of West Sugar Kenya Limited explained why sugar impounded in one of his warehouses located in Webuye, Bungoma County was packaged in bags branded ‘Brown Sugar| Not for Sale’.

According to Mr. Rai, the sugar was still being taken to the factory for processing before it could be released to the market for sale.

"Those bags were made in Kenya and not for sale was written on the bag to protect that not one bag is sold into the market. The same is taken into the factory and processed.

"If my intention was to sell as is, I would have printed the bags in my name and sold it in Mombasa," he said.

The business mogul added: "Because the sugar was imported in bulk by me as well as others it is a requirement by KEBS (Kenya Bureau of Standards) that it must be taken for further processing to the factory. When it is in bulk it can be easily contaminated and that is why it is being processed at the factory to maintain the hygiene."

Rai further rubbished claims that sugar impounded in Eastleigh area, Nairobi belonged to his company.

"The bags in Eastleigh are completely brown while mine are white. There is a day and night difference. Also, the bag read packed in India. So, how can that be my sugar? How was that statement linking me to the sugar in Eastleigh made?" he questioned.

The businessman went on to accuse National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale of targeting him noting that there were thousands of importers in the sugar business yet his company was the only being put on the spot.

"Honorable Duale is only targeting my companies. There is a long list of companies but he has only focused on targeting my companies. The question is ‘who is he protecting?’” Rai posed.

Mr. Rai insisted that he has not used any illegal means to import sugar into the country. He noted that what he did was simply take advantage of the grace period provided by the Government to companies to import sugar duty-free.

He stated that he was ready to defend himself and his company before the Parliamentary Committee adding that he had all the legal papers and receipts of his transactions.

Mr Rai, Interior and Coordination Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangí, Adan Mohamed (Trade), Mwangi Kiunjuri (Devolution), Henry Rotich (Treasury) among others have been summoned by a parliamentary committee over the illegal sugar scandal.