The government has set out to deal firmly with white collar crime, according to Interior CS Fred Matiang’i. This comes a day after three suspects were nabbed with 2000 bags of sugar not meant for human consumption in Eastleigh, Nairobi, which was meant to be sold regardless. Speaking at the Busia border post, CS Matiang’i said the trade of illicit goods, corruption, evading taxes will be tackled very hard, “As government we are now determined to deal with white collar crime in the country,” he said, “I have already had a long discussion with my colleagues who work with various agencies at the border, and we are going to act without mercy on some mischief we see around the country.”
He said illicit goods are brought into the country through some border points, “Sugar doesn’t arrive in Eastleigh from the sky and contraband goods don’t arrive in Nairobi from the sky, they come through some of our border points.” He added that officers at the border points in the country have been asked to be more responsible.
Furthermore, he noted that three different operations have been done across the country this week to track down contraband goods, highlighting the government’s commitment to the war on counterfeit goods. The CS insisted white collar crimes, financially motivated crimes by business or government professionals, are hurting the nation and some countries have refused to do business with Kenya, citing the case in Eldoret concerning the adulteration of fuel. “We can’t pretend this is not happening. His Excellency the President has instructed us this is the business we focus on for the foreseeable future, cleaning up and sorting out white collar crime in the country because its very hurtful to the economy and it has affected all of us.”