Increasing cases of contraband sugar seizures along the Kenyan coastline have reignited concerns among stakeholders, particularly farmers and industry players in sugar-producing regions such as Kwale, who have long complained about the negative impact of smuggled sugar on the competitiveness and sustainability of local factories.
The locals said sugarcane farming has collapsed due to the importation of sugar asking for urgent intervention.
Residents of Msambweni have blamed porous borders and corruption among revenue and police in facilitating illegal sugar imports, leaving their crops unattended to and fetching low prices.
“More than 1000 out growers in Ramisi around Kwale Sugar International Company (Kiscol) have remained struggling because the government has failed to give the local sugar company incentives as we experienced in Nyanza and Western region, coupled with porous borders which facilitate sugar smuggling,” said John Mwamidi, a Kwale out grower.
He added, “The government should deal with sugar smuggling and support local industries.” In the last two months, a multi-agency team has intercepted contraband sugar at Lunga Lunga and Taveta One Stop Border Post in the South Coast worth about Sh6 million.
In the first case, authorities intercepted large quantities of contraband sugar worth over Sh515 million at the Lunga and Taveta One Stop Border Posts in Kenya’s South Coast region, exposing the scale and persistence of sugar smuggling into the country.
The Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner of Customs & Border Control, Lilian Nyawanda, confirmed that the sugar had not been declared and was intended to be repackaged for illegal sale in the local market.
In one of the major incidents, a foreign-registered truck ferrying 144 bags of undeclared brown sugar concealed under a load of oranges was flagged for inspection at the Lunga Lunga border crossing in Kwale County.
Acting on intelligence, officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Customs Enforcement unit directed the truck to the Verification Yard for a comprehensive check.
“At the Lunga Lunga One Stop Border Post, Customs Enforcement officers, acting on intelligence, flagged a foreign-registered truck suspected of ferrying contraband brown sugar for inspection. The truck was directed for a multi-agency inspection under Section 153 of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), 2004, and the contraband sugar was confirmed,” read part of the statement from KRA.
At Taveta, another seizure involving a similar operation was recorded, as customs officials uncovered more undeclared sugar hidden among goods marked for local distribution. In both cases, the consignments were disguised to appear as regular cargo, with the intent of bypassing revenue authorities and evading import duties.
Investigations indicate that the sugar was part of a wider smuggling network that uses porous border points and logistical cover-ups to bring untaxed sugar into Kenya.
The seized sugar was destined for illegal repackaging before being sold in the local market at a lower price, thereby undermining legitimate local producers.
