Fresh concerns have been raised over the safety of sugar sold in Kenya after local manufacturers warned Parliament that imported raw sugar intended for industrial refining is increasingly ending up on supermarket shelves and in retail outlets.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Trade Committee on Wednesday, August 5, sugar industry stakeholders urged the government to tighten controls on sugar imports, arguing that the growing volume of imported raw sugar has created opportunities for products meant for industrial use to be diverted into the consumer market.
According to the manufacturers, raw sugar should only be imported to cover temporary supply deficits and to support industries such as food processing, beverage manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and distilleries, where it is expected to undergo further refining before use.
“Raw sugar should only be allowed into the country as a temporary intervention to address shortages and to support the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and distillery sectors that depend on industrial sugar,” a Busia-based sugar mill owner told the committee.
The stakeholders explained that international practice requires imported raw sugar to undergo refining before it reaches consumers because it contains impurities and is not suitable for direct human consumption in its imported form.
“Globally, raw sugar is imported for refining before it is sold to consumers. It contains impurities and is sometimes transported in open containers because it is not intended for direct consumption until it has been properly refined,” another industry representative told lawmakers.
To prevent industrial sugar from finding its way into retail outlets, the manufacturers called for stricter enforcement of the Sugar Act, 2024, alongside tougher implementation of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) import regulations governing sugar consignments.
Beyond the public health concerns, the industry players argued that excessive sugar imports are undermining local manufacturers by flooding the market, suppressing prices and reducing sales. They warned that the trend threatens thousands of jobs across the sugar value chain while also denying the government tax revenue through the influx of uncustomed sugar.
Members of Parliament also questioned whether ordinary consumers can distinguish between industrial raw sugar and refined table sugar once it reaches shop shelves. In response, the stakeholders maintained that the average buyer has no practical way of identifying the difference, making regulatory oversight the only effective safeguard.
The warning comes barely three months after legislators expressed concern over 27,839 metric tonnes of imported sugar valued at approximately Ksh1.5 billion that was feared could be released into the local market despite being deemed unsuitable for direct consumption.
During a meeting with officials from the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) in May, MPs questioned the handling of the consignment imported by Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited after the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) reportedly found that it met only the specifications for raw sugar intended for further refining.
Lawmakers also raised fears that the consignment could eventually be diverted into retail circulation, pointing to previous instances in which products declared unfit for direct consumption allegedly found their way into the Kenyan market.
