By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
December 13, 2025 - Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo has warned traders and residents against consuming and trading in smuggled goods from across the border, cautioning that such products pose serious health hazards.
Speaking during Jamhuri Day celebrations, the county commissioner said sugar smuggled from Somalia through the porous Kenya–Somalia border has failed quality tests and does not meet the required safety standards.
“When you test this sugar, it may taste sweet, but it is expired and unsafe. It can have dire consequences on your health. You may see it as cheap today, but you could end up spending a lot of money treating diseases caused by bad sugar,” he told a crowd that turned up to celebrate Jamhuri Day at Yathrib Primary School in Garissa town.
Mwabudzo said it was his responsibility to warn residents about the dangers of smuggled goods, noting that besides posing health risks, they also create unfair competition for legitimate business owners.
The county commissioner also raised concern over the smuggling of petrol, which he said is being sold in undesignated areas under unsafe conditions.
“Last week, we raided a place in Burbirs where petrol was being stored in a residential house without any safety considerations and sold to unsuspecting locals. This is illegal, and we will not allow it,” he said.
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He noted that due to the harsh economic situation in the country, particularly high fuel prices, border counties have increasingly resorted to smuggling fuel from neighbouring countries where fuel taxes are lower.
Mwabudzo defended the crackdown on illegal fuel storage points, saying the government will continue protecting legitimate businesses while addressing the wider economic damage caused by contraband trade.
“We have also tested the petrol being sold here and concluded that it negatively affects the lifespan of vehicles. We urge people to be extra careful,” he added.
The county commissioner further warned that transporting petrol using vehicles such as Toyota Probox cars is extremely dangerous, as they are not designed for such purposes.
“If you want to do business, do it the right way, not through unorthodox means that put lives and property at risk,” he said.
