MCA’s up in arms with the governor over PanPaper
Bungoma County Assembly CORD Members, have protested the privatization of the collapsed giant Webuye paper mill saying County state did not involve them.
Lead by Bungoma County ODM Chair, Ali Machani Mutoka alias Balala,the leaders have challenged governor Kenneth Lusaka to come out straight over the issue stating that he failed to shade light on the issue before the presidential announcement concerning the revival.
Ali who is also the Minority leader rubbished of the 900 M value of PanPaper saying the amount is very small as compared to the benefits the residents used to get saying it is a drop in the ocean and leaders will not sit at the fence and watch the Jubilee government try to ruin the people and deprive them of what is rightfully theirs.
You can also read, PanPaper sale: Curse or blessing?
“We are asking governor Lusaka to come publicly and explain what deal he has with the Jubilee government. He did not consult the County assembly prior to the deal hence we are not aware about the privatization of our paper mill, the deal is between himself and the Jubilee administration.” he said
The legislator alleged the pact is just but a campaign strategy by the ruling coalition to woe western votes ahead of the polls questioning why the Jubilee state did not revive the mill three years ago.
Machani who has already passed a statement in County assembly over the same is now calling on Lusaka to address the assembly and state how much share will go to the Bungoma residents and other benefits.
“We must know what is our share, how is the community going to benefit, is the investor going to absorb former PanPaper employees?” he added saying that the locals must know their share.
He vowed to challenge the revival of the mill if due procedure will not be followed saying that the mill is the pillar of the economy of western and leaders will not allow it be sold at a throw away prize .
Addressing the press, the Mca noted that the concern of the community is their share appealing to all leaders to stand firm and fight for the mill to benefit the County and not outsiders.
His sentiments comes barely some days after Bungoma and Kakamega senators Moses Wetangula and Bony Khalwale dismissed the state announcement over the revitalization of Webuye PanPaper saying the amount at which the industry is being privatized at is underestimated and uncalled for promising to challenge the revival lest the amount is doubled and due procedure followed to the later .