Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has moved in to try and salvage Mumias Sugar Company by forming a committee to oversee its revival. On Wednesday, the Governor stormed the Company, in a bid to iron out issues with the management. The Company’s revival has been discussed by many leaders but no firm resolution and action have been taken so far, with the latest move to lease properties of the Company drawing mixed reactions.
Speaking to residents, Oparanya, who is also the co-chair of the Sugar Taskforce, said he has spoken to the Company’s management and laid out his plans, saying he has plans to revive the Company. “I have formed a committee lead by the CEC in charge of Trade, Industrialization Kassim Were who comes from Mumias East,” he revealed. The team will also include MCAs, the County Attorney among other officials. The committee has three roles, which include inspecting the state of the nuclear farm, “We may be here yet the farm has already been sold.” Also, the committee will also look to ensure all the assets of the Company are intact, and it will also come up with a plan that will be put in place to ensure the Company is revived.
The Governor said there are individuals who have been siphoning money from the Company, and they want it to remain in its inactive state so that they continue benefitting, “We won’t accept that.” After taking a tour of the factory and speaking to the management, he said the management cited the problem started when the quota of sugarcane reduced, from 10,000tonnes to 8,000 tonnes down to 100. “They weren’t paying farmers that’s why farmers decided to take their cane elsewhere. Now when we revive the factory, we want to have a special plan that will enable the farmers to be paid early enough so that they bring their cane to this factory,” said Oparanya.
He has assured residents that he s ready for any blockades he faces in a bid to revive the Company including the court cases. However, the Company’s Acting CEO Isaac Sheunda, who skipped the meeting with the Kakamega Governor said he can’t associate himself with resolutions others have made without keeping in line with the law. He said Oparanya had already laid out his plans for the Company’s takeover to the management in another recent meeting.