A sugarcane farmer in Sokomoko village, Marakusi sub location in Lugari Sub County is counting losses after suspected arsonists set on fire her sugarcane plantation.
According to the owner Mrs. Inviolata Maina she had gone to look for harvesting permit from the West Kenya sugar company satellite office at Lugari station where she had been assured of the crop being harvested in three weeks’ time but on returning home she was shocked to find the one acre farm one fire.
Mrs. Maina who hired the farm from Mrs. Beatrice Aradi has estimated the total loss at over Kshs.150, 000. On her side Mrs. Aradi said the fire broke out a few minutes past 5:00pm and quickly spread through the plantation.
“I heard a loud bang before the fire exploded and within no minutes it had spread all over the farm,” said Mrs. Aradi.
The incident has been bitterly condemned by residents appealing for thorough investigations to ensure culprits face the law.
They have also accused sugar companies growing canes in the area for delayed harvesting thus leading to such incidents.
According to Mrs. Maina she has been looking for the harvesting permit since late last year in vain.
“If the companies were harvesting canes on time I wouldn’t have incurred the loss since these canes were ready for harvesting last year,” she said.