President Uhuru Kenyatta has said that the Jubilee government isn’t responsible for the trouble being witnessed at Mumias Sugar Company. While addressing Kakamega residents during a rally at Bukhungu Stadium, President Kenyatta said the company’s collapse was evident even before he became President, “Concerning this factory here, our opponents are complaining daily that the government has hiked sugar prices, but was the factory’s demise experienced during our term, or during the time when the opposition leaders were in government?” he posed, saying that the previous regime is responsible. He went on to say that the Jubilee government has addressed the Company’s woes, “My government has availed Kshs 3.1 billion to cater for Mumias Sugar,” he said.
Furthermore, he said that more funds will be provided to cater for farmers, “Under new management we’ve agreed that we will add a further Kshs 500 million so that farmers can be paid,” he said.
He outlined the development milestones achieved in Kakamega under Jubilee’s stewardship, “We’ve ensured that Kakamega has a hospital with an ICU. Previously, you used to go to Eldoret to get quality treatment,” he said.
“Today we have ensured that more than 450 schools are connected to electricity. Before that, students couldn’t study past a stipulated time, they had to go home early, isn’t that development?” he posed. He said that the residential homes that are now connected to electricity are more than 50,000 in the span of four years, yet since independence, there were only 31,000 homes connected to electricity.
On his part, Deputy President William Ruto said that the government has managed food production in the country well during their tenure, and said they moved with speed to tame the maize flour problem, “One of the most vital functions we addressed was agriculture because we know the importance of food production in Counties,” he said. “We didn’t flee from the devolved agriculture sector when there was a food shortage issue, we brought maize from other countries, but there are still a few challenges we are facing, especially concerning disbursement.”
He said that another problem they are facing is dealing with rogue maize flour sellers, “In some shops, sellers are hiking the maize flour prices from Kshs 90 to Ksh 120 or Ks 150. Others are forcing people to buy other commodities in order to buy maize flour.”
He said those perpetrators will be impounded, adding that already 10 businessmen have been arrested by officers. The President and Deputy President were accompanied by other leaders including Kakamega Senatorial aspirant Stanley Livondo, Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, Sirisia MP John Waluke, Majority Leader of the National Assembly Aden Duale, nominated Senator Beatrice Elachi among others.