Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has said that privatization is the way to go, to accomplish Mumias Sugar factory’s revival. The Governor who is the co-chair of the National Sugar Taskforce said the current crisis facing sugarcane farming is the mismanagement of public sugar mills that
He revealed that as things
He revealed that they have formed a special committee to look into the company’s internal issues. He said that the committee has vowed that moving forward the County government will be consulted on any move in the company’s affairs. The committee is expected to give its findings and come up with resolutions within 60 days.
He blamed the harvest of
“Stern action should be taken against anyone who will be found harvesting cane that is below 18 months old,” said Governor Oparanya. He also revealed that sugar importation that is against by farmers cannot be stopped in Kenya given that Kenya is among the COMESA countries that allow free exchange of goods. “Sugar importation can only be controlled and should be banned in factories that may take advantage of farmers. But we can’t live alone as a country.”
He also encouraged the farmers to keep on growing sugarcane, advising them to deliver the cane in private companies as they wait for the government mills to gain momentum. He confirmed that the national government had released Kshs 1.9 billion to settle outstanding payments for cane deliveries to public millers. The outstanding Kshs 808 million will be paid shortly, he said.
Most of the views from the public focused on the causes of the current sugarcane woes and measures required to bail out the ailing sugar sector.
The public was completely against selling the Company to a private owner calling upon the task force to come up with sugarcane regulations that will manage the sector.