Muturi questions fake imported sugar being processed and sold in Kenya
By Kenneth Mwenda, June 14, 2026Former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has raised fresh concerns over Kenya’s sugar sector, claiming that imported sugar is undermining local production and putting farmers in Western Kenya and Nyanza at risk.
Speaking during a public engagement in Naitiri, Bungoma County, on Sunday, June 14, 2026, Muturi questioned the importation and handling of sugar consignments entering the country through Mombasa and later processed in local factories.
He said Kenya continues to import sugar from countries such as Mauritius and Brazil, even as local cane farmers struggle to find reliable markets.
“Nataka niwaulize jambo moja. Mtu anaitwa …, anaenda analetwa sukari kutoka Mauritius na kutoka Brazil. Inaletwa pale Mombasa. Inakaa mpaka inaoza,” Muturi said.
He added that even when the sugar is old or degraded, it still enters the local supply chain through processing channels.
“Lakini hata kama imeoza, inatolewa pale inaletwa kwa kiwanda cha hapa Kisumu kinaitwa …,” he said.
Muturi argued that such practices, if true, hurt local cane farmers who depend on a stable market for their produce.
Claims of sugar repackaging in Kisumu
Muturi’s remarks come amid ongoing public debate following claims from a recent media investigation into Kenya’s sugar supply chain.
The investigation claimed that industrial-grade raw sugar imported through the port of Mombasa is diverted into local processing and later repackaged for household consumption.
According to the report, large shipments of raw cane sugar are brought into the country under industrial classification, which attracts lower taxes compared to refined sugar meant for direct human consumption.
It further claimed that once the sugar arrives, it is repackaged and distributed through local markets after minimal processing in facilities linked to a sugar complex in Kisumu.
Industry insiders quoted in the report claimed that the practice has become widespread and systematic.
“Raw sugar is imported at a lower cost under industrial classification, avoiding higher taxes applied to refined sugar. Once it arrives, it is bagged, rebranded, and distributed into wholesale markets,” one source claimed.
The report also raised food safety concerns, noting that industrial sugar may contain impurities and residues not intended for direct consumption.
Concerns for Western Kenya cane farmers
Muturi linked the sugar importation practices to the struggles faced by sugarcane farmers in Western Kenya and parts of Nyanza.
He said local farmers continue to suffer delayed payments, poor cane prices, and limited access to milling opportunities, even as imported sugar dominates the market.
Farmers in the region have long complained about cheap imports flooding the market during harvesting seasons, reducing demand for locally grown cane.
Muturi suggested that if Kenya continues relying heavily on imported sugar, local agriculture will collapse.
His remarks echoed wider concerns among stakeholders in the sugar belt, who argue that inconsistent government policy and weak enforcement have destabilised the sector.
Regulatory gaps and industry response
The media investigation also raised questions about regulation within the sugar sector, claiming gaps in oversight from relevant agencies responsible for import approvals and quality control.
It claimed that some shipments enter the country without clear authorisation, while enforcement bodies have limited capacity to track distribution once sugar leaves the port.
However, officials quoted in the report denied approving any questionable sugar imports this year, saying institutional challenges and incomplete boards have affected decision-making processes.
Customs authorities were also said to be reviewing certain consignments flagged for possible misclassification and tax discrepancies.
The report claimed that if sugar classified for industrial use is later diverted for household consumption, it could trigger major tax losses for the state and raise public health concerns.