Opposition leaders claim suspected toxic sugar cleared at Mombasa port, warn of public health risk

Kenya's opposition leaders have raised the alarm over a 25,000-metric-tonne consignment of imported sugar held at the port of Mombasa, alleging it is contaminated and unfit for human consumption, yet has been cleared by the government for repackaging in Western Kenya.

Speaking to the press on Thursday, People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, alongside Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K), Nyandarua Senator John Methu and Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), claimed the sugar had already been flagged as unfit at its point of origin.

“We are aware of a cargo of 25,000 metric tonnes of sugar that recently landed at the Port of Mombasa. This cargo has already been declared from its port of origin unfit for human consumption, yet the Ruto regime has quickly cleared it. What kind of government is this that puts its own reprehensible needs before the public’s wellbeing?” they said.

The leaders called for the immediate condemnation and destruction of the sugar to stop it from reaching consumers.

“This sugar is already on its way to a Western Kenya sugar factory to be repackaged and sold to Kenyans,” Karua said. “The fact that it has been cleared so fast shows the heartlessness of this regime. They have made money their god.”

They accused the government of putting profits above public health, calling the move “commercial greed that is poisoning Kenyans.”

Police brutality

At the same press conference, the opposition also condemned rising incidents of police brutality and alleged state-sponsored violence targeting their leaders.

Citing recent attacks in Murang’a and Subukia during peaceful meet-the-people tours, Karua claimed some of their members narrowly escaped assassination attempts.

“Specific members of our team were targeted for assassination. The evidence is clear in the bullet holes aimed at specific vehicles. We thank the Almighty for His protection, otherwise we would be eulogising our own,” she said.

The coalition said it had lodged a formal complaint with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), demanding swift action.

“We expect the IPOA to treat this evidence with the grave importance it deserves. Any attempt to take the life of a human being must be condemned in the strongest terms,” Karua said, calling for action against the Murang’a County police commander and holding Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja responsible.

'Criminal neglect'

The leaders also criticised what they termed the regime’s "criminal neglect" of public services, particularly education.

“A week ago, the Finance Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi declared that Kenya can no longer sustain free primary and secondary education. That announcement was not only insensitive but unconstitutional. Article 43(1)(f) guarantees the right to education, while Article 53(1)(b) ensures every child’s right to free and compulsory basic education,” they said.

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• warn of public health risk

They further accused the government of defunding education while secretly channelling resources into opaque financial structures known as Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), designed to bypass parliamentary oversight.

“They are securitising future taxes through secretive, unconstitutional deals without Parliament’s approval. These SPVs are run by faceless technocrats whose sole objective is to divert resources away from public scrutiny,” they said.

The opposition demanded an immediate halt to the use of SPVs, an independent audit of their operations, and the restoration of full school capitation, along with a public commitment to adequately fund education.

“The Ruto regime has normalised theft, destruction, and death as policy. We cannot allow this nation, born out of liberation struggles, to be destroyed by deception and greed,” they said.

Wearing black armbands to honour victims of alleged police violence, the leaders made a symbolic stand during the briefing.

“It is a stark reminder of the souls felled by police bullets, lives lost in police custody. We remember them today,” they added.

They pledged to continue pushing for justice and accountability, vowing not to relent.

“#WanTam is not just a slogan; it is an eventuality,” they declared.