Spoilt maize still held in silos at port

Minister for Public Health and Sanitation Beth Mugo addresses the media in Nairobi. PHOTO/ CHRIS OJOW

What you need to know:

  • Mugo warns that contaminated produce could be in the

The controversial 6,000 tonnes of contaminated maize is lying in silos at the Mombasa port, it emerged on Monday.

However, whereas Bulk Handlers Limited terminal manager Mr Aziz Ramzan on Monday insisted that the maize was still safe in the silos, Public Health minister Beth Mugo said her officials were not aware of the whereabouts of the maize, said to be contaminated, and warned that it could already be in circulation.

On Monday, Mrs Mugo said: “Kenyans need to be told the whereabouts of the contaminated maize, why it was off-loaded and why the law was contravened.

“Following the off-loading of the contaminated maize, I have written to the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission to investigate this turn of events which could possibly expose Kenyans to harmful and poisonous food,” she added.

But speaking in Mombasa, Mr Ramzan said that since a local court recommended that the maize be destroyed, the company had not received any communication on the action to take.

He maintained that the maize was still lying in the silos — occupying space and attracting storage charges.

However, speaking during a press conference in Nairobi, Mrs Mugo insisted that the maize had been off-loaded “illegally”, adding that it was the role of the government to protect the lives of Kenyans.

The minister maintained that the contaminated maize should be shipped back to South Africa, the country of origin.

Last week, Prime Minister Raila Odinga had said that the maize be destroyed locally.

And last month, High court judge Justice Joseph Sergon ruled that it was only the Kenya Bureau of Standards that was authorised by law to do all the analysis and its findings cannot be faulted.

The judge delivered the ruling after conflicting reports on the fitness of the maize were presented before the court.

A joint analysis by the Government Chemist and KeBS had found that the maize was unfit for human and animal consumption.

On Monday, Mrs Mugo directed public health officers to step-up surveillance especially on maize and its products and also appealed to the public to buy wholegrain maize to avoid illness.