Two companies have denied claims that they do not meet the minimum standards of sugar importation as required by the government.
The companies told the joint parliamentary committee of Parliament probing the sugar saga that they received approval from the Kenya Bureau of Standards at all levels.
The MPs had tasked the companies to explain their dealings in the sugar business.
In response, Hydrey P limited and Sony sugar representatives said, "We met all the requirements and conditions given by KeBS and to that matter, they issued us with CoC's (Certificate of Conformity) at
every level.".
The representative said before the Sugar leaves the Brazilian port, KeBS test it to their requirements and offer a CoC certificate.
"Mr Chairman, it is unfair all the Sugar dealers have been victimised, all our warehouses have been sealed after the mercury claims which is not true," Naushad Merali, MD
Stuntwave and Hydrey P limited said.
This, however, did not go well with the agitated MPs who accused the companies of "underhand dealings."
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The members said Kebs officials should be held accountable for the illegal sugar in the country.
"I don't know why we are wasting time here chairman. It is Kebs that we should be grilling here. They must come to appear before this committee and explain why they would certify such companies to import sugar," paused Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa.
Dagoreti North MP Simba Arati threw another bombshell when he told the committee that the sugar dealers had appeared before MPs last year and admitted that there were some challenges ailing the sugar sector.
"Can you confirm to this committee that we last year recommended that your licenses be revoked after you admitted to having many shortcomings in handling the commodity?" he paused.
However, the dealers denied the claims saying they were not aware of any parliamentary report and that whether their licenses had been cancelled.
The committee is expected to grill all the stakeholders surrounding the controversial contraband sugar before they table the report for adoption in parliament this Thursday.
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