Mumias Sugar board denies plot to sell company assets

Mumias sugar company board chairman Kennedy Ngumbau while addressing the press in Kisumu on April 5, 2019. [Collins Oduor]

The management of Mumias Sugar Company has dismissed claims that it intends to sell company assets to get money for its operations.

The management has termed statements that were made by a section of elected leaders from western region that it (board) has agreed to sell the miller’s fixed assets to finance their operations as being ill-informed.

Speaking to the Media in Kakamega town yesterday, board chairman Kennedy Ngumbau accused politicians of misleading the public by feeding them with inaccurate information.

Dr Ngumbau clarified that the company intends to lease some of the non-core assets to boost revenue collection for the company and also increase efficiency in management of the assets.

“We are only planning to lease the assets through a legal and competitive process. We want to get agents to manage the assets on behalf of the company and money collected from the assets will be wired into the company’s accounts,” said Dr Ngumbau.

Some of the assets include water and electricity plants, golf course, Mumias Sports Complex, real estate with over 2,500 houses (for middle class) and a guest house.

Dr Ngumbau asked politicians to keep off the affairs of the miller, saying they are part of the problems that are bedeviling the sugar factory.

“Politicians should stop propaganda and political gimmicks for political mileage among the electorate. We (the board) are the wearer of the shoe (miller) and we know where it pinches. We have the solutions to revive the sugar company and politicians should not interfere with the management,” said Ngumbau.

He said those who will lease the assets will serve as agents of the company to manage the assets on behalf of the company’s management.