Author: Irissheel Shanzu
AfricaPress-Kenya: Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has seized 993 bags of rice worth Sh2.3 million during market surveillance in Ortum, West Pokot County.
Kebs Managing Director Benard Njiraini said with assistance of police officers and national police service reservists they intercepted the expired rice branded KPL and orient Thai packed in 25kgs bags. “Repackaging of expired food products is serious malpractice that puts the health of consumers in grave danger,” said Lt Col (Rtd) Njiraini.
He further noted that the seized product will be destroyed at the expense of the owners in addition to any other legal action as provided by the law.
“Kebs monitors the effectiveness of quality control measures for products sold in the country through factory inspections, products certifications, market surveillance activities at the factory and market to ensure that the public is protected from harmful products,” he added.
He said the contraband rice nabbed did not have Kebs standardization mark permit or diamond mark of quality. “It should be noted that any person who contravenes any of the provisions of subsections of The Standards Act shall be guilty of an offence. We encourage the general public to be on lookout for products suspected to be substandard,” he said.
West Pokot county police commander Jackson Tumwet said the lorry ferrying the contraband rice was coming from Lodwar.
“The samples were taken to government laboratory to establish if the rice was good for human consumption or not then the suspects who are still in police custody will be charged before court,” he said.
