The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) will thoroughly investigate Uji Power and Okra to ascertain their authenticity amid assertions that they enhance consumer sexual wellness.
“This is intelligence that we have received and we shall embark on an investigation immediately,” Director Market Surveillance Peter Kaigwara said on Tuesday during a media forum with journalists.
KEBS’ attention to Uji Power and Okra was initiated by a query from a journalist who sought clarification on whether these widely circulated and utilized products adhere to the prescribed standards.
Kaigwara affirmed his intention to direct his team of market surveillance officers to scrutinize the products and potentially disclose their findings to the public regarding their authenticity.
“My team will definitely look into this with the sole aim of establishing if they meet the standards,” he said.
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While KEBS primarily focuses on maintaining quality and safety through standardization, Geoffrey Karau, Director of Quality Assurance and Inspection, emphasized the importance of other relevant agencies addressing concerns regarding Uji power and Okra.
He suggested that the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEFIS) should investigate Okra, while the Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board (KPPB) should handle issues related to Uji power even as KEBS considers examining their authenticity.
Due to the limited capacity of only 55 enforcement officers in Kenya to inspect various products in the market, Kaigwara issued a call to action, urging Kenyans to report any suspicious or counterfeit products circulating in the market.
The plea comes after the recent fake fertilizer scandal, which threatened the nation’s food security.
“We normally act and use all manner of information and take it as intelligence,” he said.
Uji Power is a powdered blend utilized to prepare porridge while Okra is a vegetable whose chopped pods are soaked in water overnight, creating a liquid purportedly consumed for its health and sexual advantages.
