MPs should not cover up the truth on illegal sugar imports

Some of the sugar impounded in a past sting operation in Mombasa. [File, Standard]

The circus surrounding the probe on sugar said to contain traces of mercury does not augur well Kenyans. The integrity of Parliament as an institution of repute is has been damaged after Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Trade, Industry and Cooperatives that investigated the claims gave conflicting statements with some alleging that the report that was presented last week was doctored. On Thursday, Speaker Justin Muturi deferred debate on the preliminary report because it was "presented unprocedurally".

But tellingly, Mr Muturi said some suggested amendments from members of the committee had been ignored in the final report. Those members who felt that the report had been "doctored to get some of the people indicted off the hook". In spite of the aspersions cast on him and the team he leads, the chairman of the committee, Kieni MP, Kanini Kega is insisting that all was well.