In its four-day long inspection visits of various Container Freight Stations in Mombasa County.
The Departmental Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Cooperatives observed a worrying trend of missing/stolen Expired Edible oils which had been confisticated by the government, awaiting destruction.
At PortSide CFS, more than 51 containers containing the expired edible oils were found empty during the committee’s inspection tour, with the management unable to give justifiable explanations of where they had gone to.
At the Console Base CFS, the Committee, led by chairman Hon Adan Haji, gathered that most of the oil jericans in the containers were empty, causing concerns from the Legislators that the oil may have been siphoned and sold to unsuspecting Kenyans.
The management in this case, told the Committee that the oils have been spilling since 2018 when they were taken to the storage area.
But the Committee observed minimal spillages, pointing to possible foulplay.
At Mitchell Cotts and Autoport Container Freight stations, the committee learned that all the expired oils had already been destroyed, and some were released to identified soap manufacters to reduce the losses incurred even as they cannot be consumed by humans.
The Committee ascertained this at Mitchelle Scott, but was denied access to Autoport premises to make any comfirmations.
On the final day, the Committee aundertook a learning tour of the Associated Vehicle Assemblers headquarters in Mombasa County.
The delegation led by the Committee’s vice Chairperson Hon Ruth Mwaniki, MP (Kigumo), had a discussion with the AVA Management on the various milestones so far achieved and challenges faced by the Assemblers.
This, is in a bid to relook the policies regulating importation of used vehicles in Kenya, and ensure the promotion of local industries such as this one.
