By Elizabeth Mwibanda, Bungoma
Privatisation of the cash trapped Nzoia Sugar Company is the only solution to resuscitating the multimillion Miller that is the livelihood for majority of cane farmers, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has said.
Speaking during the burial of Prof George Fungo Chenge at Nangwe Village, Kabuchai Constituency, Wetang’ula announced that the process of initiating the privatisation of the sugar factory had commenced following the dismissal of the court case that was hampering the rescucitation plan.
“A case that had been filed in court blocking the leasing of Nzoia Sugar Factory has been dismissed and the process will start immediately,” said Wetang’ula.
Wetang’ula urged those frustrating the process to abandon the intention and allow efforts being put in place to revitalize the Mill to resume cane processing to minimize losses incurred by farmers some of whom have had to ferry their cane to factories further away.
“I want to tell individuals standing in the way to privatising Nzoia Sugar factory that the world in changing and they should let the exercise be undertaken for the good of the suffering farmers,” he added.
President William Ruto speaking in Bungoma town on his last day of the week long tour of the region revealed that Nzoia Sugar Company will re-advertise a bid for a strategic investor in a bid to rescue the struggling miller.
The president emphasized the urgency of bringing on board new management to address years of mismanagement that have caused immense suffering for farmers and workers.
The head of state revealed that the initial bid process had been canceled and assured that within two months, a strategic partner would be identified to lease the company.
He reiterated the importance of the factory’s revival to ensure timely payments to farmers and workers.
“I will not allow cartels opposing the lease of Nzoia Sugar to derail this process. We will deal with them decisively. If we get this right, Kenya will become one of the greatest sugar exporters. Last year, we didn’t import any sugar,” Ruto remarked.
Wetang’ula told farmers who had quit cane farming to make a comeback noting that the future of the cash crop was bright.
“I know some Nzoia Sugar factory farmers had been poached by rival companies around…I urge them to come back and support the Mill because the challenges faced by the factory will be a thing of the past,” he added.
He added that Nzoia had a huge potential because it was a mill with the largest cane nuclear in the region.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka noted that the county was ready to support cane farmers to enhance their farming of the cash crop.
“The county has suffered due to the collapse of Nzoia because it was one of our key sources of revenue,” he added.
Noted Lusaka: “The county will therefore support any initiative bring put in place to revive the Mill.”
Senator Wafula Wakoli who noted that corruption was to blame for the woes the Mill faced, noted that efforts by president Ruto to weed out graft by changing top management of the Mill was a welcome move.
“The poverty level in the county has gone up after the collapse of Nzoia Sugar factory. Those opposed to plans to revive the factory are selfish,” he added.
