Ruto moves to clamp down on ‘Brookside’ powder milk from Uganda with new directive
Ruto steps up fight on imported powder milk from Uganda and other countries as he orders for sealing of all loopholes
Ruto steps up fight on imported powder milk from Uganda and other countries as he orders for sealing of all loopholes.
President William Ruto has ordered Kenya Dairy Board to close all loopholes utilized by businesspeople to bring powdered milk into the nation.
In remarks made on Tuesday, August 8, at the commissioning of the upgraded Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) in Kiganjo Factory, Nyeri County, Ruto alleged that cartels in the milk sector were abusing the board’s licenses to import powdered milk.
He also cautioned KCC against supporting the businesses, pointing out that their main duty was to preserve the regional market.
“For the last couple of years, they have been bringing nearly 100 million litres of powdered milk yearly. They only buy a little from our farmers and then add more powder,” Ruto disclosed.
“Going forward, we must protect our local production, and we have put plans in place to ensure that our farmers benefit,” he added.
Ruto asserted that the farmers in the country could be empowered for the companies to produce the milk powder locally.
However, he played cagey over the companies and individuals involved, declining to be roped into a public battle with traders in the milk sector.
Nonetheless, he reiterated that the accused companies imported powdered milk through Uganda.
“I do not want to mention any names. I mentioned some countries recently, and I got into some problems,” Ruto, cautious of the sensitivity of the matter, which affects both trade and diplomacy, stated.
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On his part, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua indicated that the government was seeking partnerships with other East African Community (EAC) presidents in a crackdown on businessmen importing the powders into Kenya.
“We will sit with our neighbours and tell them that we respect the EAC regulations but we must have an understanding that the milk should be from your farms,” he disclosed.
Gachagua added that they recently overhauled the dairy board, which he claimed was taken captive by state capture.
“In some neighbouring countries, some of the cartels have taken advantage of the EAC treaties. They go and import milk from Europe and then process the powder in the EAC countries before bringing them here,” Gachagua stated.
This comes after police seized 16 tonnes of powdered milk branded Brookside Uganda at a warehouse in Eastleigh on Saturday, August 5 as the government enhanced its clampdown in the milk sector.
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