Mumias Sugar Company exploiting farmers, say MPs

Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali (Left). He and three other  MPs have accused  Mumias Sugar Company of exploiting farmers by imposing punitive levies. (PHOTO: BENJAMIN SAKWA/ STANDARD)

Four MPs have accused  Mumias Sugar Company of exploiting farmers by imposing punitive levies.

Emanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East) and Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani) said the Government should stop Mumias Sugar Company from fleecing cane farmers any further.

"Billions of taxpayer's money has been injected into the firm for its bailout, and the management must desist from subjecting already burdened farmers to exorbitant charges that only adds to their misery," said Mr Washiali.

Speaking during a fundraiser in aid of St Leonard Catholic Church in Mumias East Sub-County, the MPs argued that farmers were not responsible for negative returns, popularly referred to as DR.

"It is wrong to force farmers to pay for something that did not benefit them," said Mr Wangwe, adding that many farmers were posting negative returns due to high production cost.

minting profits

He said the management was happy minting profits at the expense of farmers.

"The way farmers cannot be allowed to buy sugar on credit in shops, the same should apply to raw materials."

Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Deputy Secretary General Simon Wesechere said the management had reneged on an earlier agreement to have such charges staggered over four harvest cycles to cushion farmers from negative returns.

"Farmers must be guaranteed cash on delivery of raw materials to the factory," he explained. Speaking separately, Lugari MP Ayub Savula told West Kenya and Butali sugar companies to address the bureaucracy that makes it difficult for farmers to get permits to harvest their mature crop.

"Farmers are compelled to part with at least Sh3,000 before they are issued with a permit," he said.