Cane farmers cry foul after Nyanza legislators snub privatisation meeting

By Kepher Otieno

MPs from sugar cane growing regions came under scathing attack last week from farmers for taking sugar cane matters lightly.

Most of the legislators failed to attend a key meeting to discuss privatisation of the local sugar factories, despite getting invitations.

Only assistant ministers Oburu Odinga (Finance) Alfred Khangati, (Office of the Prime Minister) Ayiecho Olweny (Education) attended the stakeholders meeting.

Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) directors led by the chairman Okoth Obado said the absence of the legislators was puzzling, and could be seen as insensitive by farmers.

"We did not expect the MPs to snub the meeting. Our elected leaders are a big let down to farming," said Obado.

KSB director Saul Busolo said the MPs should not allow their vested political interests to override the development activities.

"It is high time our MPs stop reading politics even in matters of development. Such stereotyped thinking will only hurt development efforts," said Busolo.

Agriculture Minister William Ruto also attended the meeting, called by the Privatisation Commission.

Farmers disappointed

Sources intimated to The Standard that the absence of the MPs could have been linked to the presence of Ruto.

Lately, the relationship between Ruto and Nyanza MPs have been frosty after Ruto hinted he may run for President in 2012.

But Busolo said it was wrong for the MPs to give Ruto the cold shoulder at such an important function.

"The fact that Ruto may be harboring future political ambitions is not a bridge to shun openly. There are better ways ODM MPs can settle their in-house affairs," argued Busolo.

Several cane farmers interviewed expressed disappointment with the MPs, saying that they pretended to be too busy for nothing.

"Sugarcane is the major economic main stay of western Kenya. It is, therefore, wrong for our MPs to shun a meeting meant to determine livelihoods of the people they represent," said a farmer, George Owuor.

Ruto said the Government would not relent in its plans to reform the sugar industry.

"The Government will undertake to clean the balance sheets of the factories much of which has been achieved," the Minister said.

Ayiecho gave a chronology of the past privatisations and asked Ruto if State measures would protect the process.

Busolo said the Government should come up with a stimulus package for sugar cane farmers.

"We want the state to pay farmers in lump sums for cane that has taken over 25 months in the farm, in the same way it bailed out the pastoralists when their cows were dying", he said.

 

 

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