The government has put smiles on the faces of Nzoia sugar company farmers after writing off the company’s debts in efforts to revive the ailing  sugar sector.

Speaking at Nzoia Guest house on Monday July 21 2020, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya assured the farmers that the government is set to bring the ailing sugar sector back to normalcy and Nzoia sugar will be at the fore front.

Nzoia sugar company has been failing to operate efficiently following the Ksh62 billion debt that has been the major challenge leading to no payment to the farmers and also interference with the normal operations of the company.

The government has written off the debt owed by the millers to allow interested investors who meet the required standards to lease the company.

“Along-term solution is needed for this company to succeed and that’s why we are striving so hard to see it flourish and the farmers benefit fully from it.I am here to assure you farmers that the process of writing off the debt has gone through the cabinet and no one should doubt it ,” said Munya

Munya further noted that the government has opted to allow the leasing of the company but with conditions in that whoever is allowed to lease the company must accept all the workers that were working there before and with their union agreement.

He/she must take the farmers agreement of the sugarcane developments and to make sure the canes are fully absorbed and this will be done together with the county government to make sure that the out growers’ interests are fully taken care of.

His sentiments were echoed by the council of governors’ chairperson, the Kakamega county governor Wycliffe Oparanya who emphasized the same saying that the failing of the company affects the farmers directly not the leaders yet they are the voters.

“I urge all the leaders present and those from within to join hands together to fulfill the urge of reviving this company because these farmers voted us in and we can’t stand seeing them suffer,” he said.

Also present was the Bungoma county governor Wycliffe Wangamati who expressed his joy and satisfaction towards the move that has been taken by the government to bring back Nzoia, noting that the company is so precious to the people of Bungoma and the community around.

Wangamati appreciated the move that was taken to ban importation of sugar and also called for more sensitization on leasing so that it can be understood and dealt with in a proper way.

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Nzoia Sugar Company farmers have condemned the management of the Company on what they have termed as misuse of funds in relation to 228 bags of sugar which went missing under unclear circumstances.

The Company which was one of the leading sugar producing industries in Africa and even awarded as the best company in the year 2015 has since been facing various hurdles in its operation.

Sources have revealed that the 228 bags of sugar were lost to fraudsters yet farmers have not been paid for the past one year.

Addressing the press on Wednesday May, 27, 2020, Juma Lubakaya, a farmer condemned the Company’s Management for insufficient service delivery to the people and so prompting the job to protest for the next seven days.

‘’This is very bad,as farmers we are very annoyed with such management and if they are not going to pay farmers their money, we will have peaceful protest,’’ he ranted.

He however, added that since the new Managing Director Michael Wanjala was given mandate to run the Company it has experienced much political pressure which has lowered the performance of the Company as well as corruption.

‘’This management and the board has been misusing farmers money through many travels, seminars and workshops around the country as well as abroad, this eventually left it insolvent,’’ he said.

Wanjala, the Managing Director said that the matter is already in the public domain urging the DCI and the police to investigate the matter and establish the truth.

The Managing Director added that the Company has many employees and when something goes wrong the Company needs to investigate the matter before clear information is given to the public.

“Let it be known please that I don’t work with angels and as human beings we mess,”he said.

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