Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya dismisses CORD rallies, asks them to offer solutions

Governor Wycliffe Oparanya

Political leaders and cane farmers have dismissed rallies organised by CORD over sugar importation terming the rallies as ‘cheap politics’.

They have termed the rallies as ‘hypocritical’ and mere rhetoric, which will not offer any solution to the challenges facing the sugar sector.

Despite being a CORD member, Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said the coalition should stop its rhetoric and advocate for a solution to help thousands of cane farmers in the country.

“I am a member of CORD but on these rallies, I beg to differ with them. It is not time for baseless rhetoric but to look for a solution to the many challenges affecting sugar sector in the country. Cane farmers are suffering and we need to come up with solutions that will end their suffering,” Mr Oparanya told The Standard on phone.

The Opposition outfit was expected over the weekend to hold rallies on sugar importation into the county but postponed it for the second time with Oparanya’s sentiments raising eyebrows about whether the rallies in his county will materialise.

Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe said the rallies do not have the interests of the common cane farmer at heart.

He said CORD MPs had a chance to push for the sugar report in the National Assembly but they failed.

He asked the Opposition to use the correct channels to address their grievances instead of overloading Kenyans with politics, which do not provide solutions.

“If MPs allied to CORD are holding rallies to agitate against sugar importation with hopes of addressing the plight of the sugar sector in the country then they are misleading Kenyans. They had an opportunity to push for the sugar report in the National Assembly but they failed. They should use the right channels to address issues instead of burdening Kenyans with mere politics,” said Mr Wangwe.

Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali said the rallies will not provide a solution to many challenges facing cane farming in the country.

sugar crisis

“The rallies will not provide any solution. We should look for solutions instead of politicking with serious matters,” said Mr Washiali.

Joseph Barasa, a cane farmer allied to Mumias Sugar Company dismissed the rallies saying CORD is part of the problem facing the country's sugar sector.

“CORD should not ride on the sugar crisis yet it is part of the problem. Its members have failed to push for the sugar crisis report, instead they colluded to have it withdrawn. The report could have offered solutions to problems facing the sector,” said Mr Barasa.

Barasa who petitioned the National Assembly to form a committee to investigate the crisis in the sugar sector said for CORD to genuinely defend the interests of cane farmers, it should first push for the adoption of the report.

“If indeed CORD is fighting for the interests of cane farmers then it should compel its MPs to push for adoption of the sugar report," he said.