A report by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) indicated that flour from the Kigoto maize milling plant that was launched by ODM leader Raila Odinga is unfit for human consumption.
The Kebs laboratory test report showed that the Mokwa maize flour had a high aflatoxin content of 19.46 against the required maximum of 10.
However, in response, the Homa Bay County government urged locals and consumers not to panic over the poisoning of maize flour manufactured at the Kigoto Maize Milling Plant in the county.
Homa Bay County Chief Officer for Investment Ellyas Orondo admitted that indeed 36 bales of maize flour manufactured at Kigoto had high aflotoxin.
Orondo however said the 36 bales whose quality had been questioned by the Kebs were not meant for sale.
He said the 36 bales of maize flour were ground after the factory opened after not grinding flour for several months, adding that the flour was to be examined.
He added that the flour would have been thrown away if laboratory tests revealed that it contained a high level of aflatoxin.
“What happened is that our machine stopped working for some months. When we were resuming production, we set aside the 36 bales for testing the quality of our flour. That is what was tested by KEBS and we acknowledge their results,” Orondo said.
Kebs in a letter dated September 13, 2023, had asked Kigoto maize milling plant to recall all the products over what it termed as quality issues.
“These are major non-compliance affecting the performance of the product, health, and safety of the consumers,” the letter signed by Bernard Sindani, Kebs regional manager for lake region read in part.
