Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa has assured sugarcane and maize farmers that they will get their dues ahead of the Christmas festivities. Speaking in Kakamega during a funds drive for the Kakamega County Maendeleo Women’s Sacco, CS Wamalwa revealed that the Kshs 2.6 billion promised by the President during the last Mashujaa day held at Kakamega’s Bukhungu stadium, to help revive the sugar industry, will be paid to farmers owed by a number of factories that are struggling financially at the moment.
CS Wamalwa explained that as stakeholders, they have reached a decision to pay farmers on a one on one basis without involving sugarcane company managers and directors for fear that the money may be looted as before.
He said that they reached this conclusion as a way of encouraging farmers to continue with cane farming besides appreciating their hard work. CS Wamalwa confidently assured the residents and Kenyans that the committee created after the directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Mashujaa day to look into sugarcane woes led by Agriculture minister Mwangi Kiunjuri and Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya will deliver.
He further revealed that the government has also released Kshs 2.1 billion to clear debts owed to maize farmers. He called upon the members of the national assembly to unanimously support the two thirds gender rule debate that is currently being debated at the assembly as a way of supporting development and devolution. “Kenya is a regional dwarf when it comes to women issues, other countries like Rwanda have statutes that are well articulated when it comes to women and leadership, MPs you have an opportunity to change this for good,” he said.
