How smuggled goods from Uganda land in Kenya – Weekly Citizen

Two senior rogue police officers in charge of Northern corridor sector 7 in Webuye have been accused of working in cahoots with some businessmen in aiding the entry of unaccustomed goods into the country. Investigations by Weekly Citizen has established how contraband liquor and sugar get in the country through Eldoret-Malaba highway under the aid of two senior Northern corridor commanders based in Bungoma county. Two senior Northern corridor officers and one senior police officer in charge of border control are alleged to be behind aiding contraband sugar and alcohol from Uganda being transported along Eldoret-Malaba highway. According to a customs officer who spoke to Weekly Citizen in confidence, there is always top-notch coordination between the officer commanding northern corridor unit Eldoret-Malaba highway Joshua Nyasimi, his deputy Daniel Obuya and those transporting the contraband goods to avoid detection or arrest from ‘uncooperative officers’.The customs officers want KRA director-general James Mburu to address the issue with relevant authorities. They fear, millions are lost in tax evasion perfected by the cartel. On the night of May 12 at 8 pm, a truck carrying sugar smuggled from Uganda was stopped by police officers manning a roadblock in Webuye along-Eldoret-Malaba highway, the driver did not have any clearance documents both from custom and Kenya revenue authority. A standoff ensued after the driver refused to open the cabin doors as he made frantic phone calls.

Siaya County Commissioner Michael Ole Tialal

But not long after they received a phone call, reportedly from a senior police officer commanding Northern corridor patrol along the highway, which made them change their minds. The officers were ordered to release the truck with instructions that it belongs to Thomas Baraza, deputy traffic commandant based in Nairobi police headquarters. The illegal goods which were packed in 50kg bags were suspected to have been smuggled into Kenya from neighbouring Uganda through the porous border. On counterfeit alcohol, cartels led by a Ndiragu control Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties markets. He allegedly pays the senior northern corridor officials huge bribes so the goods are allowed to be sold in the region. Our investigations also managed to identify a Toyota Voxy KCF 459R as the vehicle used to ferry counterfeit alcohol from Uganda to Bungoma, Webuye and Kitale. Ndiragu is said to be a threat to junior police officers as he is known to engage only senior officers. The suspect has been arrested on various occasions transporting sachets of illicit liquor Simba Waragi believed to have been smuggled from Uganda but released under unclear circumstances. Police reports indicate that he has never been arraigned in court after being arrested over four times. In 2018, more than 30 police officers who have served for over 10 years at the border point were transferred to stations outside the county. Others are Golden Lion brand, Simba Waragi, Coffee Spirit, Senator Keg, Guinness, Tusker, Tiger among others. Rice from Eastleigh has been finding ways to Western markets under the watch of the said officers. Impeccable sources narrated to this writer that once the rice hit parts of Bungoma, it is repackaged then sold to locals. The move was aimed at combating smuggling menace at the border. Michael Tialal who was then the county commissioner blamed some police bosses in the county and at the police headquarters, whom he said were working closely with officers manning the border from Alupe to Mayenje to allow smuggling as they share proceeds of corruption.