Keep off Nzoia Sugar affairs, farmers tell two local leaders

Nzoia Sugar Company acting managing director,Godfrey Wanyonyi during the inspection tour of the factory. (TITUS OTEBA/STANDARD)

Sugarcane farmers have told local politicians to keep off the affairs of Nzoia Sugar Company.

Addressing the Press yesterday in Bungoma town, representatives of farmers led by Patrick Webo told Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi and his Webuye West counterpart Dan Wanyama to stop agitating for the disbandment of the company’s board of directors and sacking of the top management.

“We are tired of the theatrics of our elected leaders... We elected them to represent us in Parliament and not to speak on behalf of farmers. They should play their legislative roles in Parliament and should stop fighting the factory bosses,” said Mr Webo.

Last week, the two lawmakers accused the board of directors and top management of Nzoia Sugar Company of colluding to run down the factory. They called on the Government to sack the management and appoint a fresh team to raise the firm’s stakes.

Continued Attacks

Mr Wanyama claimed some board members and top managers had announced they would contest various seats in the next General Election and should be relieved of their duties.

Webo, who is a former Bungoma mayor, said the MPs were attacking the board and the management for their own benefit.

“The two are not interested in the suffering farmer. They are pretending to fight for our welfare but what they want is to manipulate the board and the top managers for their own good,” said Webo.

His sentiments were echoed by Bungoma County Civil Society Chairman Martin Wanyonyi who also hit out at the two leaders for their continued attacks against the management.

“Instead of them tabling a bill in Parliament to help the local farmer, they are are attacking local factories. We have understood their hidden agenda and we are not going to accept their plans,” he said.

Contacted, Nzoia Sugar Managing Director (acting) Godfrey Wanyonyi and Chairman Joash Wamang’oli said the two MPs were demanding the hiring of their kin against the code of ethics.

“I can’t sit down and wait as you perpetrate lies against us to win sympathy votes. We are aware of your tricks. The factory is doing well and we are paying farmers on delivery of cane,” said Mr Wamang’oli.