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Details of powerful Rai family that Duale has linked to contraband sugar

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale on Tuesday sensationally linked the Rai family to the contraband sugar that has allegedly been imported to the country without following the due process.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Duale denied reports that his family was among those that had been importing illegal sugar that is unfit for human consumption.

However, the Garissa MP did not just defend his name, but went ahead to imply that the Rai family was involved in the illicit trade.

"The culprit is walking free and we want to know who is protecting him. The same guy is the biggest logger in the country and he has even been made a board member of the Kenya Forest Service board, it's ridiculous! When you hear PanPaper, you know who the owner is," Duale stated.

Pulselive.co.ke established that PanPaper is owned by the fabulously wealthy Rai family that bought the firm and renamed it Rai Paper.

The family's wealth is traced to Tarlochan Singh Rai, the family patriarch who built a multi-billion empire with the help of his wife Sarjit, and their four sons.

The coupls' sons include Jaswant, Jasbir, Tejveer and Onkar - all who are actively involved in the vast family business.

Jaswant chairs the Rai Group and was recently named board member of the Kenya Forest Service Group.

Tejveer is the Managing Director of West Kenya Sugar Company - the company that owns Kabras Sugar.

On Tuesday, Tejveer published a media statement where he sought to distance the company from accusations of selling illicit sugar.

The family also has business relations with companies associated with President Uhuru Kenyatta's family as well as that of former President Daniel arap Moi.

One such relationship is evidenced by a long running court dispute where Jaswant and Tarlochan were sued for investing family money in Commercial Bank of Kenya and Timsales Limited - two companies associated with the Kenyatta family.

The suit had also incorporated Kabarak Limited which has shares in Raiply and also associated with the Moi family.

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