Western Kenya leaders pledged to support President Uhuru Kenyatta’s development agenda, and war against corruption, during a meeting between the Head of State and leaders from the Western region at State House. Nairobi. The issue of the revival of sugar industries in the region also cropped up, centred around Mumias Sugar and Nzoia Sugar companies. President Kenyatta revealed that a one-month deadline has been set to ensure there is a way forward, “I am certain that within one month, we shall have the way forward on how to revamp the sector and where to invest more money,” he said.
He said the state can’t continue availing more funds geared towards the sector revival yet it goes unaccounted for, “We need a revival plan that works and regulations that work. We can’t continue pumping money to the companies which go to endless pits,” he said, adding that the report on the sugar sector revival will clear the path when it comes to assisting sugarcane farmers. He said it’s the mismanagement from leaders that has led to the current impasse and that the government will urgently address the payment of farmers.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula said that the government should have a firm policy that checks on imported maize and sugar to ensure cheap imports don’t harm the local production. The meeting brought together many leaders, including Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka, Governors Wycliffe Oparanya, Wycliffe Wangamati, Patrick Khaemba, Senators Moses Wetangula, Amos Wako, Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa, former VP Moody Awori, former Speaker Ken Marende, MPs including Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, Lugari MP Ayub Savula among other leaders.
