Nzoia Sugar Company board chairman Mr. Joash Wamang’oli has assured residents and farmers in Bungoma County that the factory’s operations are going on well, refuting claims by a section of leaders that the sugar mills had halted operations due to poor management and a lack of funds.
He said the factory is now producing more tonnes of sugar than it was before, saying operations were earlier affected because of a lack of well-blossomed and mature sugarcane, “I urge the leaders who are using the name of Nzoia Sugar factory to gain political mileage to visit the facility anytime to confirm that more sugar is being produced now,” he said, citing Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula and Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi as leaders who have politicized the state of the factory, “We shouldn’t use propaganda even if we are wooing voters. Instead, we should encourage the government to avail more funds for the company.”
Wamang’oli also dismissed allegations that the management had been given Kshs 300 million, but later returned Kshs 50 million to be used in campaigns. He said that the money wasn’t even available in the company’s bank account, “The Senator is free to check the factory’s bank account, and if he has any tangible evidence concerning the issue he should forward it to the anti-corruption commission for the right action to be taken,” he said, adding that Senator Wetangula should apologize to the company and farmers.
The chairman also urged other sugar factories to desist from cane poaching. He blamed the Bungoma County Commissioner for failing to address the issue, adding that they won’t take the issue lightly, “We have sought help from the County Commissioner but it was futile. Therefore, I have instructed the staff members who are in charge of security to protect our sugarcane because it seems the County official has been compromised and wants to bring down our mill,” he said, adding that it’s unacceptable as long as he is the chairman. Moreover, he promised farmers, contractors, and workers that their dues will be paid in one or two weeks time.