Linturi appeared before the Senate and clarified that he had not issued permits to the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) to import 200,000 metric tonnes of sugar in April. He stated that his ministry had only approved the importation of 180,000 metric tonnes at that time.
Mr. Linturi insisted that a total of 280,000 metric tonnes of sugar had been procured in December of the previous year, with 100,000 metric tonnes already arriving, leaving a balance of 180,000 metric tonnes.
Linturi emphasized that he is responsible for issuing permits to sugar importers and had not given any permit to KNTC for 200,000 metric tonnes of sugar. He maintained that the sugar he had approved was 280,000 metric tonnes, with 100,000 tonnes gazetted in December 2022, and the rest gazetted on May 2, 2023.
“I am the one who gives permits to any importer to bring sugar and I have not given any permit to KNTC to bring 200,00 metric tonnes of sugar,” stated Linturi.
He clarified that there would be no additional sugar imports outside of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) that would enter Kenya duty-free.
CS Linturi’s statement contradicted CS Kuria’s earlier testimony, where the Trade Cabinet Secretary had informed the committee that KNTC was preparing to import an additional 200,000 metric tonnes of duty-free sugar, bringing the total imports to 300,000 metric tonnes. Kuria had explained that KNTC’s role included importing various goods such as sugar, fertilizers, beans, and oil, and that the corporation relied on internally generated revenue to finance its operations.
The Agriculture CS clarified that sugar importation licenses are processed online and do not require human interaction. He also mentioned that Kenyans can expect cheaper sugar prices in the second week of July 2023, as 180,000 metric tonnes of sugar are expected to arrive.
Senator Mohamed Chute urged the two ministries to collaborate in streamlining the importation of goods and conduct investigations into alleged corruption in both ministries. Linturi highlighted the limited supply of sugar in the country, which has affected the price, and mentioned that the dollar shortage has also contributed to the price hike.
Linturi expressed his partnership with other stakeholders to review the sugar sector and address the challenges it faces.
The contradiction over the sugar imports is not the first time the two cabinet secretaries have differed. In November 2022, the Trade CS urged farmers not to withhold maize saying doing so will compel the government to import GMO maize, while his Agriculture counterpart beseeched farmers not to listen to Mr Kuria, arguing that he is the one in charge of agriculture.
Mr Linturi would go on to distance himself from the importation of the GMO maize saying he was not aware of any plans to ship into the country genetically modified corn.
“I am the custodian of the ministry and I’m not ready to answer to what is being reported in social media,” he curtly responded during a press briefing in his office.
