Cane farmers protest want Sh2.7 billion listed beneficiaries published

Chairman Kenya Sugarcane and allied products Saul Busolo (Center) with Kenya Sugarcane Growers Association Secretary General Richard Ogendo ((left) while adresing the press in Kisumu on February 22nd 2019. (Collins Oduor, Standard)

Farmers’ plea over Sh2.7b arrears

Cane farmers want all state owned sugar factories to publish names of all farmers listed for payment of Sh2.7 billion arrears owed to them.

This is one of the resolutions reached yesterday by the Kenya National Alliance of Sugarcane Farmers in Kisumu as they wait for the supplementary budget to clear their arrears.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed the ministries of Agriculture and Treasury to pay the arrears upon validation.

Addressing the press in Kisumu, the growers, led by former MP Saul Busolo who is a farmer, said they want the list published for them to validate the names.

The calls were also backed by leaders of Kenya Sugarcane and Allied Products Union and the Kenya Sugarcane Growers Association, Charles Atyang and Richard Ogendo, respectively.

Not genuine

Kenya Sugarcane and Allied Products Union Secretary General Peter Kasamula sparked the debate, saying some farmers on the list were not genuine.

“We want the list printed so that we can evaluate and validate names of those marked for payment. We don’t want a computer generated list of ghost farmers,” Kasamula said.

The list has since been verified and approved by the Treasury.

“We want the list to be taken to all farmers’ out-growers zones so that we can evaluate it just to make sure that imaginary farmers are not paid,” said Kasamula.

The state owned millers such as Mumias, Sony, Chemelil, Nzoia and Muhoroni have been struggling to pay farmers as private mills like Kibos, Kabras and West Kenya thrive. [Kepher Otieno]