Mumias boss murder: He said MP was after his life- First wife

The macabre murder of Mumias Sugar company secretary, Ronald Lubya, has left more questions than answers. There are vicious sugar cartels, conniving politicians out for campaign millions and a possible love triangle: his two wives are said to be first cousins.

Lubya had also expressed fears over his life and was contemplating resigning from the sugar miller.

Nasa founder Musalia Mudavadi let the cat out of the bag — even before Lubya was killed – that there were political aspirants who were forcing the Mumias Sugar Company management to part with millions of shillings for campaigns.

Musalia raised the issue at a rally at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega. Ronald Lubya, was killed on Sunday night.

Musalia’a aide, Kibisu Kabatesi, told The Nairobian that he was in possession of a letter from Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali in which he demands Sh10 million from Mumias Sugar management to boost his re-election on a Jubilee ticket.

Investigators believe that Lubya advised his CEO Erod Johnston — who has declined to have his contract renewed — not to give cash to politicians because it would be hard to account for given the hard economic times the company is facing.

“I will forward you a letter that makes us believe that was a political death,” promised Kabatesi when prodded on whether Lubya’s death was political.

One board member and a close associate of Washiali was said to have demanded the Sh10 million “thank you” cut from the company from the Sh239 million released from the Sugar development levy.

“We are not able to release Sh10 million to Benjamin Washiali for his Jubilee campaigns because we won’t be able to account for it and our core priority is to pay farmers and maintain the factory machines,” declined Erod Johnston in the letter.

Johnston has in fact not signed to renew his contract on what an investigator said could be “fear of getting on the wrong side of politicians and persistent interference in running of the company by politicians.”

Lubya’s first wife Carol Mumasaba recalls that her late husband had mentioned Washiali and that “When I last saw him on Sunday we discussed he resigns from Mumias. In fact, we had sent application letters to other companies. Hubby kept complaining that his life was in danger at work and I advised that he quit. He actually named MP Washiali as one who was after his life. He also reported to police of being tracked by a car for close to three days sometimes back.”

Carol claims to have called Washiali to settle the matter.

“I called him about the verbal and written threats he was making on my husband and he said he was driving he would call back. He never did,” said the mother of three children with Lubya, adding, “God will see us through.”

Contacted by The Nairobian, Washiali said that Lubya’s wife actually phoned him but he did not respond.

“First, it is a political season and I didn’t know the gravity of what my sister wanted to share. I think it was in relation with a statement I made to a cross section of top managers in Mumias when I visited the place with the company’s board chair. I am since sorry (sic) to my sister in law,” explained Washiali adding,“I never sent Lubya threatening messages on phone or anywhere (sic).”

Washiali reiterated that he was not to blame for the company’s CEO (Erod Johnston’s) upcoming exit and that he had not demanded money from the management. “Let anyone who has evidence to the contrary table it. That letter is fake,” he said.

Washiali was not certain whether he would make it to Lubya’s funeral but said, “I am currently looking for Caroline to pass my condolences. I know she has two tragedies; first, the loss of her husband and second that of her first cousin snatching her husband.”

Richard Cheruiyot, the Western regional CID officer, when asked whether the MP had been questioned said, “We have not called him (Washiali) but the letter looks genuine and claims of demands (by politician) of huge sums from the factory have been on.”