Cane farmers urge MPs to help disband board

By JOEL OKWAYO

Kakamega County

Cane farmers from Kakamega County have petitioned MPs from sugar zones to pile pressure on the Government to disband the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB).

The farmers said the Minister for Agriculture, Sally Kosgei, should heed to demands by her Cabinet colleague Wycliffe Oparanya to dissolve the board.

They accused KSB of failing to address problems facing sugarcane growers.

Under their umbrella body, Mumias Sugar Cane Farmers Association, they claimed the tenure of the board expired last month, adding fresh elections should be held.

Led by the association’s Executive Director Simon Wesechere, the farmers claimed KSB had failed to account for more than Sh500 million it collected from growers for cane development.

Manage industry

"We are not getting fertilisers and other farm inputs because the board has failed to manage the industry," said Wesechere.

He also urged Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) to investigate the whereabouts of the Sh500 million the board claims to have deposited at Equity Bank for disbursement to farmers.

"Equity Bank has told us they do not have money from the board," said Wesechere.

He added the board should admit inability to account for the money instead of misdirecting farmers over the matter.

Mr Oparanya is reported to have called on Dr Kosgei to dissolve the board. The Planning Minister said the sugar regulator had failed to revive out grower institutions such as the Mumias Out Growers Company and the Busia Sugar Company.

Wrong policies

Oparanya further said farmers were suffering due to wrong policies being formulated by KSB.

KSB Director in charge of Sugar Development Levy, Billy Wanjala, said the tenure of the board was about to end.

"Elections will be held this year, but it is the minister who will give directions," said Wanjala.

He defended the board, arguing it has made remarkable achievements, among them improving the livelihood of farmers.

He said bridges have been constructed in various places including Oparanya’s Butere constituency.

Wesechere said directors of the board should face farmers and explain to them what they have done instead of attacking MPs from the region.

Speaking during a farmers meeting at Bukaya market in South Wanga Division, Mumias District, Wasechere said farmers were still underpaid due to poor bargaining between millers and the board directors.