By Standard Online

Public Health minister Beth Mugo has said her ministry cannot trace shipment of condemned imported maize allegedly offloaded from Mombasa port.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Monday, the minister said the maize had been condemned as unfit for human consumption. She said the maize had been recommended for destruction or returning to South Africa from where it was imported in November last year.

But now the maize cannot be traced, she said, adding that she had invited the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate.

It is not the first time the maize consignment of 6,350 tonnes is making the headlines. In early March, Mrs Mugo said tests by the Government Chemist and the Kenya Bureau of Standards showed the maize had high amounts of aluminium phosphide and was unfit for human consumption.

Mrs Mugo’s position contradicted that of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who had said the maize was clean and would be released into the market.

A week after Mrs Mugo made her statement, American ambassador Michael Ranneberger received a consignment of 30,000 metric tonnes of maize from the US. He said his country had undertaken tests and inspections to ensure the maize was not tainted.

Kenya has been experiencing hunger in many parts of the country, prompting The Standard Group to launch the Mercy Train. Parliament Speaker Kenneth Marende flagged off the last batch of relief supplies donated by various companies and individuals in Nairobi last Friday.

In February, Agriculture minister William Ruto survived a censure Motion in Parliament over accusations that he was responsible for the loss of maize from the country’s strategic reserves in the National Cereals and Produce Board depots.

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