Teso North MP Oku Kaunya has called for stringent border surveillance to curb the entry of contraband sugar into the country.
Speaking at his constituency office in Amagoro on Tuesday, Kaunya said contraband and smuggled goods were flooding the Kenyan market at the expense of local industries and farmers.
He cited sugar and maize among commodities being smuggled into the country.
The legislator’s call for tighter regulations followed the impounding of eight trucks carrying contraband sugar of unknown value at the Malaba One-Stop Border Post.
Kaunya said smuggled goods were cheaper and thus denying local products their rightful share of the market.
“There is need to tighten border checks so that we don’t encourage smuggling. We are also asking the President to ensure that the Malaba border conducts genuine business," the MP said.
He appealed to the concerned ministries and other state agencies to ensure the presidential directive banning illegal imports is fully implemented to safeguard Kenyan industries, especially those in the sugar sector.
“I know in my constituency, we have a lot of business that come around through smuggling. However, the government agencies manning the porous border should step up border surveillance and patrols to curb these illegal activities," he said.
“This sugar incident is one that should not be allowed and I want to commend the police officers for having intercepted the trucks. The Kenya Revenue Authority should carry out a full inspection on this contraband sugar and take relevant action.”
On Thursday last week, KRA officials arrested six people suspected of smuggling a consignment of 550 bags of sugar with an estimated worth of Sh2 million at Sikata area in Bungoma county.
The contraband sugar is believed to have gained entry through the Malaba border point.
Edited by P.O
