THE BIG DEBATE: State playing PR on Mumias Sugar

Jubilee government has failed completely to save Mumias Sugar Company and the company now risks closure as it more of a 'dead' company.
The national government is playing a PR exercise using company to hoodwink the community.
It is the same government which is almost killing sugar industries in the region, Nzoia Sugar Company is also facing same fate if the government will not salvage it as needed.
To salvage the company from collapsing, the government should transfer its 20 per cent shares in the company to be owned by the county government.
The Sh 3.2 billion bailout for the company is a drop in the ocean, the company needs at least Sh 12 billion to revive it fully.
Apart from the bailout to pay farmers and staff, there is need to invest more in farming infrastructure like developing seed cane, fertilizer supply, training of farmers on best farming practices among others.
The company should also revive Mumias Out growers Company (MOCO) which agitates for the interests of farmers including better payment per ton.
The company should also engage in Community Social Responsibilities (CSR) to support the community by constructing and maintaining roads in the sugar growing zone.
It is time for the national government to hand over the company to the county government to manage it by pumping more funds in the company.
The Government rejected our bid to take and manage the shares in order to fast truck reviving process of the ailing sugar company which is now faced with a closure threat due to lack of funds.
The woes at the miller can only be addressed through close monitoring and that can be best dealt with by the national government.
Currently the hands of the county government are tied yet our people are suffering due to great loss incurred.
If the company collapses the economy of the county and the whole nation will sink.
There is need to support the company for it to effectively serve its contracted farmers in the region.
Political leaders aligned to Jubilee should also stop politicking with problems facing the company because poor politics have also contributed to the near death of the company.
The Government is running Mumias Sugar Company because it is the largest shareholder, it should allow the company to be fully privatized to enable revival and survival of the company. (Wycliffe Oparanya Governor-Kakamega County)