Just as whiskey, legalise busaa and chang’aa, there is no civilised drunkard: Ken Lusaka

You are the Jubilee point man in Western, but Luhyas are crying “Jubilee taawe (not Jubilee)!” Will you win?

I am going to win because my re-election is going to be anchored on my performance as governor. And I have performed. The business of ‘Jubilee taawe’ is just propaganda on Facebook.

Last weekend, the Jubilee team made inroads in Mumias, Matungu, Webuye East and Kimilili constituencies and we were received very well.

But Nasa says it will send all Jubilee allied MPs from Western packing

On the contrary, we are going to clinch a number of seats in Western because all our candidates vying for various elective posts are strong leaders who can be trusted to perform according to wananchi’s expectations if elected.

Luhyas voters are bitter about the fall of Pan Paper and Mumias Sugar companies. What will you tell them when campaigning for the President?

Who told you Luhyas are bitter about Pan Paper? Look, the factory went under receivership during the nusu mkate (Grand Coalition) regime and on the watch of the same individuals who are making noise about it now. But we are fixing it.

People are busy concentrating on the old machinery at the roadside. Those who imagine nothing is going on need to go inside the factory to see what is going on. For instance, the second line of production was tested last week to complement the recycling plant that President Uhuru launched months ago.

This means half production is operational because the factory has four units. Already, 500 people are employed and we are projecting to employ 2,000 people when it’s fully operational. The turnaround of Pan-Paper is on course.

What of Mumias Sugar?

I think people know individuals who contributed to the current challenges facing Mumias Sugar Company. Some of the people are in opposition, some in government.

People rush to opposition to cleanse their past mistakes claiming they are fighting for Kenyans rights. But what has changed? They are the same people. Joining opposition does not make you an angel even if you did not perform in your previous position.

We will be telling the people this message during campaigns and naming those who brought down Mumias to its knees.

When Michael Kulundu Okumba, an insider and career sugar manager was bypassed as Nzoia Sugar Company acting director for an “outsider”, there was a backlash from the community. Was the matter resolved?

Kulundu is the current acting manager. The matter was resolved.

That time, we sat down and said the timing of his change from the helm was wrong. We read a sinister motive because Kulundu was doing a good job and it was not right to move him at that time.

Traditional circumcision... does it have a place in modern society?

Yes it still has a place but we are not forcing anyone to do it the traditional way. Those who want to carry on with their culture can do so. It is a liberal world.

Traditional circumcision has also improved. It is not like in the ‘60s where one knife could be used on several boys.

One thing we should not do is to abandon our culture because it’s what defines a people. Modernity is not about adopting someone else’s culture.

You were captured sipping busaa with elders during the circumcision ceremony last year. What message were you putting across? Is busaa legal?

We cannot run away from our culture, it’s the way of the people. I was appreciating our culture on circumcision and joining the elders.

 Last year, my administration gazetted the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2015 to regulate the production, sale, distribution and consumption of traditional brews including busaa. When I was in provincial administration for over 20 years, I spent all my time fighting busaa, but it has never gone away. You just look at ways of managing it.

If you go to Uganda, there is waragi, in Tanzania konyagi. What we are saying is that busaa should be prepared in a clean environment and the time for drinking regulated. Why would you want to punish the common mwananchi yet people go to drink whisky? A drunkard is just a drunkard. There is no civilized drunkard!

What was your most challenging assignment as DC?

Dealing with Mungiki in Muranga in 2006/07 was the most difficult. It was a time the group’s madness was at its peak.

 We had to deal with it firmly and bring back sanity because it was getting out of hand. Remember they were taxing everybody and when you wanted to build a house or transport anything, you had to pay them. They were actuating becoming a government and a law unto themselves.

Cattle-rustling in Marakwet was also a challenge when I served there. The terrain was difficult when pursuing the culprits.

How do you feel as a leader when your people cross the border to buy unga and sugar in Uganda?

We encourage cross-border business but we should not make it appear that it’s the first time people are going to Uganda to buy commodities. In 2008, 2009 and 2011, we had the same issue with prices.

How will the election for governor in Busia play out?

I think the Busia debacle took an ethnic dimension which will play out between the Luhyas and Tesos. That is no good for the unity of that county. The earlier arrangement they had was alright and everybody felt included.

Do you see Weta being president of Kenya one day?

God has a plan for everyone. I wish him well but the chances are very remote.

If Raila wins and goes for five years as president, then Kalonzo ten and Mudavadi another ten years, those are 25 years in total, by which time Weta will be 86 years old.