New Mumias CEO in talks with Kenya Power after quiet handover

Mumias Sugar Company new CEO Errol Johnson, who is not new at the miller, is expected to close the gates of corruption and theft in both the sugar and ethanol business lines that nearly sank the miller. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: Australian manager Eroll Johnson has officially taken over the running of Mumias Sugar Company (MSC) for the second time in a quiet handover ceremony at the Western Kenya-based miller.

The expatriate, on whom farmers and shareholders are banking to turn around the fortunes of the company, has already started paying them their dues, after taking over the job last week. He was the company’s managing director 15 years ago. Mr Johnson, who has joined a new management team that was recruited recently to strengthen and support the firm’s turnaround plan, takes over at a time when farmers have lost patience with the company over unpaid debts running into billions of shillings.