The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti on Tuesday spoke on the rising cases of cancer in Kenya – saying there was a link between the disease and the activities of criminal cartels in the East African region.
Kinoti said investigations had revealed that there is an organized criminal cartel that has been selling contraband products that expose consumers to the risk of cancer.
The DCI said there are numerous instances where an expired product in one country is taken to another country and repackaged to show a false expiry date.
“We have been having a lot of challenges in terms of ailments like cancer here in Kenya. We have to ask ourselves, why are they increasing so rapidly?”
“You will find that what has expired in one country, finds itself in another country and it is repackage as a new product. They are crossing into our border from Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and then they find their way to be consumed by our people,” Kinoti said.
East African Association of Prosecutors
The DCI spoke at an executive meeting for the East African Association of Prosecutors, hosted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Kenya.
The meeting included prosecutors and criminal investigative agencies in the East African region.
Kinoti called on his colleagues from East Africa to work with prosecution authorities to bring to an end contraband trade in order to improve the quality of life for citizens.
He also spoke on the need for stakeholders in the region to partner in ending human trafficking.
Among those who have died are prominent personalities in Kenya including former Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore, former Kibra MP Ken Okoth, and Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso - who have passed on in the span of one month.