Leaders claim State out to kill sugar mills

By KEVINE OMOLLO

Kisumu, Kenya: A section of leaders from sugar belt zones have accused Jubilee Government of plotting to ground the country’s economy through selling sugar companies to foreign investors.

The leaders accused the government of failing to sustain the local sugar companies in the country to make them unviable and then privatise them by selling to their foreign business partners.

The leaders who spoke during the launch of Koru Girls Secondary School Strategic Plan 2014-2014 in Muhoroni, Kisumu County on Friday said they would push for the sale of unsustainable sugar companies to County Governments within which they are situated.

MPs Onyango K’Oyoo (Muhoroni), Julius Meli (Tinderet) and Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem) claimed the government had started negotiations to sell Miwani and Chemelil sugar companies, a move meant to stifle the economy of the region.

“Sugar is the major economic backbone of this area and if we give it away then we are sending our people to poverty,” said Mr K’Oyoo.

 Meli claimed sugar barons within government are behind the move to use their foreign friends to own the sugar industry in the country so as to mint huge monies.

“We will not accept any blackmail for foreigners to own our economy. The sugar industry must belong to the Kenyan farmers,” Mr Meli said.