Kabras Sugar, a popular brand under West Kenya Sugar Company, has faced significant controversy over allegations of containing harmful substances like mercury and copper. These claims were made in 2018 by then-Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, causing public alarm and scrutiny of the sugar industry in Kenya.
Controversy and Health Concerns
In 2018, CS Fred Matiang’i shocked the nation by announcing that Kabras Sugar contained dangerous levels of mercury and copper, substances that pose severe health risks. Mercury ingestion can lead to cancer, weakened immune systems, and complications in the nervous and digestive systems. Copper exposure can cause diarrhea, nausea, heart complications, and low blood pressure. Matiang’i’s statement emphasized the gravity of the situation: “They are killing us because they are selling poison to all of us… and none of us is safe.”
Despite these serious allegations, millions of consumers had already been exposed to Kabras Sugar. The parent company, West Kenya Sugar Company, attempted to defend its brand, highlighting that their sugar is milled from locally grown sugarcane supplied by over 60,000 small-scale farmers in Western, Nyanza, and Rift Valley regions.
Company’s Response
West Kenya Sugar Company issued a statement on social media affirming their support for the Kenya Police’s efforts to fight counterfeit goods and emphasizing that Kabras Sugar is produced from local sugarcane. They acknowledged the police’s seizure of counterfeit sugar but maintained their product’s safety and quality.
Legislative Action
Kakamega County legislators, including Lugari MP Ayub Savula and Matungu MP Justus Murunga, questioned the lack of arrests following the discovery of contaminated sugar at West Sugar Factory and PanPaper Mills warehouses. They called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to shut down these facilities and revoke their licenses after 30,000 cubic tons of mercury-laden sugar were found.
Ownership of Kabras Sugar
West Kenya Sugar Company, which produces Kabras Sugar, is owned by Rai Holdings Limited. The Rai family, particularly under the leadership of Tarlochan Singh Rai and his four sons – Jaswant Rai, Jaspir Rai, Tajveer Rai, and Onkar Rai – has built a significant business empire in Kenya.
Rai Holdings Limited
Rai Holdings Limited owns several major companies in Kenya and Uganda:
- West Kenya Sugar Company – Located in Malava, Kakamega County.
- PanPaper Mills – Located in Bungoma County.
- Sukari Industries – Located in Homa Bay County, making Rai Holdings the second largest sugar producer in Kenya.
- Kinyara Sugar Works – In Uganda, where the Rai family holds a majority stake.
The Rai family, often referred to as RaiPly, acquired PanPaper Mills, valued at KES 18 billion, for a mere KES 900 million in 2009.
Diversified Business Interests
Apart from their sugar ventures, the Rai family’s business interests include:
- RaiPly – Makers of chipboards, blockboards, polythene bags for sugar, parquet, and ceilings.
- Menengai Oil Refineries – Involved in the production of edible oils, fats, and soaps.
- Timsales – A saw milling business.
- Real Estate – Through Tulip Properties.
- Wheat Farming and Horticulture.
Leadership
- Jaswat Rai: Chairman of West Kenya Sugar Company.
- Tajveer Rai: Managing Director of West Kenya Sugar Company.
Conclusion
The Rai family, through Rai Holdings Limited, owns and operates West Kenya Sugar Company, the producer of Kabras Sugar. Despite facing serious allegations regarding the safety of their sugar, the family maintains a diverse and expansive business portfolio across multiple industries in Kenya and Uganda. The controversy surrounding Kabras Sugar highlights the challenges and scrutiny faced by large-scale food producers in ensuring product safety and maintaining public trust.
