Parliament halts Sh420m KEBS probe after DCI clears agency

Parliament has suspended its probe into the alleged loss of Sh420 million at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) cleared the agency of involvement in the scandal.

The inquiry had centred on claims that forged documents allowed untaxed goods such as rice, edible oil, powdered milk and substandard fertilisers to enter the country, but investigators found no evidence linking KEBS to the revenue loss.

The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, chaired by Shinyalu MP Bernard Shinali, had been leading the inquiry. The committee had summoned KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari three times to respond to the allegations, but she failed to appear.

“We have since been told that the DCI has already concluded his investigations and has cleared KEBS, but the EACC and the Auditor-General are yet to conclude theirs,” Shinali told the House. “The committee will look at the findings of the investigative agencies before recommending appropriately to the House.”

Before calling off the probe, the committee had escalated the matter to Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui and Industry Principal Secretary Juma Mukhwana, who oversees KEBS. The step followed Ngari’s repeated failure to attend the sessions despite receiving summons.

In its invitations, the committee emphasised that it was seeking answers on “weighty matters that touch on the safety of the food that Kenyans consume, among others.” But Ngari asked that the meetings be rescheduled to dates of her choice and never honoured them.

“She requested the committee to reschedule the meeting to a date of her choice, but never appeared before the committee, only to be informed that the investigative agencies are looking into the matter,” Shinali said.

Ngari had initially been expected to appear on March 27, 2025, to respond to what MPs described as irregular dealings at KEBS that had cost the government “colossal amounts of money” through document forgery.

Records show she acknowledged receiving the summons from the Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge, but in a letter dated March 26, 2025, she explained that an official foreign engagement clashed with the scheduled appearance.

“Given the significance of this engagement and our commitment to cooperating fully with the committee, we respectfully request that our appearance be rescheduled to April 7, 2025, which will give us ample time to prepare the responses,” Ngari said in her response.

Her repeated failure to attend nonetheless drew criticism from lawmakers, who accused her of disregarding Parliament’s oversight mandate.