Kenyan detectives nab one million bags of toxic rice destined for local market in Mombasa

A team of detectives working on a report compiled by Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and Government agencies, including National Intelligence Service (NIS) have impounded one million bags of toxic rice in
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the rice, originally from Pakistan, had been condemned as unfit for human consumption and was past the expiry date by three years.

Had it not been for timely intervention by Kenyan authorities a staggering one million bags of toxic rice would have made its way into the Kenyan market and with it harm millions of Kenyans.

A team of detectives working on a report compiled by Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and Government agencies, including National Intelligence Service (NIS) have impounded one million bags of toxic rice in Mombasa County.

And that is not all, the detective have also confiscated more than 400 containers of cooking oil which, they say, do not meet required standards.

“Yes, it’s true we have impounded about one million bags of rice stored in some warehouses in Mombasa. We believe some of the toxic rice may have been sneaked into the market,” Said Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti yesterday,

Mr Kinoti said rogue importers working in collusion with customs officials were printing new bags that were transported to the high seas and used to repackage the contaminated rice, before releasing them into the market.

“They print new bags with fresh expiry dates then repackage the rice ready for entry through the port. Some of the rice had been condemned about three years ago as unfit for human consumption,” he added.

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The goods were seized last month by the authorities.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the rice, originally from Pakistan, had been condemned as unfit for human consumption and was past the expiry date by three years but somehow found its way into the country.

In addition, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) refused to clear more than 400 containers of 20kg jerricans of cooking oil from Malaysia.

This new development comes just weeks before the toxic sugar scandal which broke out last month has even settled down.

Sugar destined for sale in retail chains were seized and upon tasting were found to be laced with dangerous insoluble metals such as copper and mercury.

The Palm Oil Refiners Association of Malaysia (Poram) has already petitioned its government to intervene and have the oil shipped back to Malaysia.