Parallel taskforce walks tight rope as Government, splinter groups oppose it

Demonstrating Dominion farm workers whose contracts were cut short detain tractor transporting sugarcane to West Kenya sugar company at the farm in Siaya county on November 30,2017 after their employer terminated all workers contracts without notice.The proprietor of the farm is allegedly folding the business due to hard economic times in the country and political situation. [Photo: Denish Ochieng/ Standard]

The government’s effort to revive the ailing sugar sector might be delayed by the presence of a taskforce by the farmers. The taskforce has been alongside another one set up by the government.

Those behind the rival team claim the task force led by Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri ignored them. At the heart of the tussle which has also split sugarcane farmers are plans to zone millers and privatisation of State owned factories.

Kenya National Alliance of Sugarcane Farmers formed the taskforce that has been reviewing laws governing the industry and meeting farmers to collect their views on how to save the sector.

The group planned to submit its findings to President Uhuru Kenyatta, through Kiunjuri. However, the Cabinet Secretary has indicated he will not accept their report. The CS claimed the outfit had been sponsored by individuals out to frustrate government efforts to resuscitate the industry.

Kiunjuri blamed Sugar Campaign for Change – one of the lobbies behind the parallel taskforce – for the aborted meeting between the ministry-backed taskforce and the farmers, two weeks ago.

No recognition

He said he would not engage the taskforce and the Government would not recognise it.

“This lobby has been sabotaging government efforts and I am not going to engage them,” said Kiunjuri.

The outfit, whose members include former Kenya Sugar Board chairman Saulo Busolo, started its countrywide campaigns two weeks, meeting farmers across western Kenya. The team was received in some areas and rejected in others.

There are reports rival groups across the larger western Kenya region are being used by private millers and sugar barons to frustrate government efforts to save the industry.

Those opposed to Busolo’s team claim some of its members are not cane farmers.

Parallel team

Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers chairman Ibrahim Juma said the team is “a creation of some private sugar millers behind the woes in the sector.”

“All farmers are behind the task forced ordered by the President and we’ve made our presentation to the team,” Juma said.

Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe said those in the parallel team were wasting their time because it lacks mandate and will therefore not be able to present any report to the President.

“The team betrayed its intentions when it failed to wait for response on its request to be co-opted into the government taskforce,” said the MP.