By Elizabeth Mwai
A record pile of counterfeit drugs were burnt last night as the Government upped its war against illegal medicine.
The 40 tonnes of drugs whose value is estimated at Sh17 million were destroyed under the close watch of Inspector Dennis Otieno of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.
Mr Otieno said the board had given the go ahead for destruction of the consignment that arrived at the Port of Mombasa a month and-a-half ago and which were mislabeled "Made in Kenya Not For Sale", yet they originated in China.
"I supervised their transfer from Mombasa to Nairobi so destruction maybe viewed by everyone," Otieno said
Speaking at Environmental Combustion Consultants (ECC) limited in Kitengela where the destruction took place, Otieno said two cartons of drugs would also be taken to the National Quality and Control Laboratories for further consistency tests.
Swiftly impounded
The burning was, however delayed for hours thanks to the power-rationing schedule.
The drugs mostly included sub-standard injectibles.
In an exclusive story by The Standard’s Crime Courts and Investigation magazine, CCI, concerns were expressed over the drugs and Government agencies swiftly impounded two 30ft containers, containing the drugs purchased by Dawa Limited.
