Debate erupted in the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon when the joint committee probing the issue of contraband sugar tables its progress report.

The matter has been under investigation by a joint committee bringing members from the Trade and the Agriculture committees, under the chairmanship of Kieni MP Kanini Kega.

On Thursday, MPs tore into a preliminary report that Kega had tabled to the National Assembly to offer an update on the investigations.

Majority Leader Aden Duale termed the report as "shoddy" and unfit to be presented in a county assembly.

A number of MPs sought to know if there was any mercury in the sugar confiscated since the report had only mentioned that "tests were ongoing".

Speaker Justin Muturi intervened and accused members of the committee of laxity, saying that they lost the plot when they exchanged too much pleasantries with accused persons who appeared before it.

"You lost the plot when you started hugging and kissing people who were being investigated. It seems you forgot about the issue of quality of sugar and its impact on health," Muturi said with a chuckle.

The speaker advised Kega and his team to concentrate on issues of quality and submit a substantive report before the house.