The new requirement aims to ensure that sugar quality is checked and maintained at all retail outlets.

Official figures indicate that local sugar production surged by 123.4 per cent in the six months to June 2024, reaching 384,552 tonnes.

The last time Kenya imported as much sugar was in March 2023, when imports of the sweetener hit 93,880 tonnes.

Ruto said it is illogical for the country to continue importing food items, including sugar, when local farmers and companies can produce them.