President William Ruto’s administration imported duty-free cooking oil via the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC), aiming to stabilise prices. Four of the companies contracted to import goods worth KSh 6 billion have been linked to the Kenya Kwanza government.
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) declared 125,000 metric tonnes of edible oil imported by the government unfit for human consumption.Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has declared the government’s 125,000 metric tonnes of edible oil unfit for human consumption.
President William Ruto’s administration imported the cooking worth KSh 25 billion duty-free to help reduce the rising market prices. According to Business Daily, the government estimated that the cost of basic food commodities would drop by 30% under the duty-free import programme.
However, it emerged that the firms contracted by the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) to import the oil have links with the Kenya Kwanza administration. In November 2023, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) wrote to the registry of companies demanding details of the companies involved in the import scheme, People.
Daily reported Below is the full list of companies involved in the controversial cooking oil import scheme by the government.
1. four Firms linked to Mary Wambui
Former trade CS Moses Kuria tabled a list of 11 companies contracted by KNTC to import edible oil under the duty-free scheme. Out of the 11, four companies had direct links to Mary Wambui, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Board chairperson. Wambui’s firms got the contract to import edible oil, rice, and beans in a deal worth KSh 6 billion. These are Purma Holdings, Charma Holding Limited, Enterprise Supplies Ltd and Evertec General Trading Company Ltd.
2. Multi Commerce FZC
Multi Commerce FZC is among the companies that the DCI wants their details from the registrar of companies. KNTC contracted the company to supply vegetable oil and Indian white rice in a deal worth KSh 8.12 billion.
3. Standard Petroleum Ltd
Standard Petroleum won a KSh 5.5 billion tender to supply rice, red kidney pinto beans, cooking fat and fertiliser. However, the company’s details are not found in the Registrar of Companies files.
4. Lamar Commodity Trading Ltd
Lamar Commodity Trading Ltd was contracted by the government entity to supply NPK fertiliser. The deal with KNTC would see the firm walk away with KSh 2.7 billion.
5. Makran Imports and Export Ltd
KNTC gave Makram Imports and Export Limited a KSh 1.88 billion tender to supply Indian raw white rice. READ ALSO Moses Kuria Puts State Officers on Notice over Obsession with Foreign Trips Makran was registered on April 27, 2021 by Abdirahman Muhumed Kainan. The rice was imported duty-free, to the disadvantage of other competitive companies.
6. Shehena Company Ltd
The corporation signed a deal worth KSh 1.33 billion with Shehena Company Limited to supply edible oil. The DCI also ordered the registrar of companies to provide the registration details of Shehena Company Ltd/Commodity Trading Company.
7. Nutrivine Ltd
Nutrivine Company Ltd received a KSh 187.5 million contract from KNTC to supply rice under the duty-free scheme. Other companies the then Trade CS listed are Lone Trading FZE, Invest Africa FZCO and First Quality Supplies. Contaminated edible oil KEBS letter, dated September 5, 2023, to the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC), detailed that the 125,000 metric tonnes of cooking oil imported by the state entity was unfit for human consumption.
In November 2023, KNTC reached out to local cooking oil manufacturing companies to help process the final product.
