Police raid shop, impounds suspected poisoned sugar in Siaya

Siaya, Tuesday, May, 30, 2023,

KNA By Philip Onyango. 

Police in Siaya is holding a consignment of suspected poisoned sugar following complaints from members of the public.

According to the Siaya Sub County police commander, Benedict Mwangangi, the directorate of criminal investigations has taken over the investigations after the commodity was found in one of the wholesale shops in the town.

He said that police officers, accompanied by public health officials took samples from the sugar which was taken to the government laboratories for test to determine whether it was fit for human consumption.

Sources told Kenya News Agency that a consumer who had bought sugar from the outlet became concerned when the sugar turned black and had strange smell.

“When you put the sugar into hot water, it turns dark, just like water mixed with instant coffee, instead of the brownish colour that we are used to” he said.

The consumer said what alarmed him more was the irritative effect of the sugar along his throat when he swallowed the tea and he had to cough several times whenever he took the drink that was prepared with the sugar.

He said that he had opted for the cheap commodity, that retailed at sh. 205/= per kilogramme due to the hard economic times that has seen the price of sugar rise to beyond sh. 240/- per kilogramme. 

The police boss, said that the police raid impounded seven bags of sugar that were found in the shop.

He said they were waiting for the outcome of the tests to determine the next course of action but assured the public that the police were alert and will not allow unscrupulous businessmen to put lives of the public at risk.

The incident comes amidst reports of the disappearance of a huge consignment of condemned sugar in a go down in Thika. This has seen several public servants in the Customs Department, Kenya Bureau of Standards and other entities sent packing and hauled before courts.

 Courtesy ; K. N. A