Farmers furious over Muhoroni managers

By Kepher Otieno and Peter Atsiaya

Tension has gripped Muhoroni Sugar Company over the tenure of receiver managers as cane farmers pressed for a change of guard at the firm.

They asked the Government at the weekend to explain why the managers, Martin Owiti and Kipngetich Bett, were still in office yet their term had ended on February 9, this year.

Cane at Muhoroni Sugar Company. The firm’s receiver managers are still in office even after their term in office expired. Photo: George Mulala/Standard

Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) director for Muhoroni zone, David Kodongo, told a farmers’ meeting in Muhoroni that the Ministry of Agriculture had declined to install new receivers picked by the Board last week due to political interference.

" We are now being told the decision has been reversed," said Kodongo. He added: "We spoke with Agriculture Minister William Ruto on Thursday afternoon and he endorsed the new team. But as we waited to be given a letter for their contract someone called to reverse the decision." Mr Kodongo, who spoke on behalf of other directors, explained that most farmers had lost faith in the current receivers who had managed the company for four years.

He said the directors were surprised that a team picked by the board to run the factory had been sidelined without any explanation. But when reached for comment, Mr Owiti and Mr Bett said they were still in office.

" We will be in office until told to leave by the Government," said Mr Owiti.

KSB Chief Executive Officer Rosemary Mkok, however, downplayed the matter, saying the Government was yet to make a decision on who should be the company’s receiver managers.

"We have not decided who should be the factory’s receiver managers. The matter is still under consultation," Mkok told The Standard.

During the meeting, the farmers claimed the current receiver managers had failed to serve them.

"We want a change of guard at the factory because the factory is not performing well. The harvesting programme is in dissarray and farmers have not been paid for several months," said one of he farmers’ leaders, Mr Killion Osur.