You erred, ODM leader Raila Odinga tells Jubilee on sugar imports

ODM party leader Raila Odinga and Secretary General Ababu Namwamba after meeting delegates in Bungoma town, Saturday. [Photo: Titus Oteba/Standard]

Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga has accused the Jubilee administration of planning to cripple local sugarcane factories through the sugar deal allegedly signed with Uganda.

Addressing the ODM Bungoma branch members at Centrica Hotel in the county yesterday, Raila termed the sugar deal a big joke, saying sugar produced in Uganda cannot even feed its populace.

“This is a way of impoverishing the local farmers. The alleged deal is only meant to benefit the sugar barons through a registered cartel,” he said.

The Opposition leader said inefficiency in addressing the plight of cane farmers is likely to give way to cheap sugar to flood the markets, and in turn render the local industries redundant.

This, he said, is because local farmers would not be able to sell their produce due to saturation of the local market by cheap products allegedly from Brazil.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) planned rally to address the sugar deal at Bukembe market yesterday was called off after Raila confirmed it was postponed due to unavoidable circumstances.

Last stages

He said their intended host, Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi, was unwell, therefore they had to call off the rally.

While addressing ODM delegates, Raila said CORD remains united as a family, noting that they will continue working together to ensure unity and peace prevails upon all party leaders as they strive to serve wananchi.

“As a family, all party leaders and supporters will work to strengthen our house. That is why as a party, ODM has laid down structures to help us grow as we support our partners,” he noted.

ODM Secretary General Ababu Namwamba said they are in the final stages of verifying signatures collected and by September 10, they will hand it over to the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission, which would then forward it to County Assemblies to call for a referendum to address contentious issues in the Constitution.

“Okoa Kenya referendum is real. We will ensure the Constitution is amended so that pressing issues, for instance,  unemployment, devolution and poor governance are addressed,” he said.

Those who attended the closed door meeting were Busia Women Rep Florence Mutua, MPs MP Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem),  Fred Outa (Nyando), former Kanduyi MP Alfred Khang’ati, Bungoma County Assembly Majority Leader Majimbo Okumu among other leaders.

Bungoma County ODM Chairman and Sirisia MP John Waluke, was conspicuously absent, however the leaders said he was held up with other official duties.

The Sirisia MP has been seen advocating for Jubilee government to fund projects in his constituency, which he said is  has been marginalised.

However, Ababu downplayed the issue saying, Waluke is still their loyal member, who should steer the branch well to ensure the growth of the party.

Raila later addressed residents at Bungoma bus terminus and called on them to support ODM in all their endevours.