A senior government official has proposed that Kenyans boycott sugar consumption for one week to show their dissatisfaction with the government over the illegal importation of the product in the country.
Ababu Namwamba, the Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary who concurred with Homa Bay County women representative Gladys Wanga on her proposal to ban sugar imports on Saturday said Kenyans can directly fight cartels by boycotting their products.
"Kenyans should unite to fight illegal imports by boycotting sugar-taking for a week," Ababu said in Nairobi at a press briefing.
"Just ban all sugar imports. I mean completely, absolutely! Then revive, modernize and expand all our sugar factories to raise production levels even as we concurrently invest heavily in bee rearing, honey production and processing to provide a supremely healthy alternative."
Ababu said it does not make economic sense to continue importing a product that Kenyans themselves can produce locally.
Wanga on her part said: "Let us bite the bullet and ban sugar importation completely; revive our factories and give our people an economic lifeline. Any shortfall can be canceled by a reduction in intake."
There has been raging debate among Kenyans following reports that some sugar recently illegally imported into the country contains mercury samples which are dangerous to sugar consumers.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has already confirmed the existence of such sugar.