Sugarcane farmers stage demo over 'exploitation'

Transport along the Trans Mara-Oyani road was yesterday paralysed as sugarcane farmers protested what they termed exploitation.

Over 200 farmers lit bonfires and prevented transportation of cane to South Nyanza Sugar (Sony) Company in Awendo.

The youth, who were armed with poisonous arrows and machetes, blocked cane hauliers that were ferrying the produce from Narok County to the miller, citing exploitation from both Sony and Trans Mara sugar companies. The protesters threatened to set ablaze Sony's five tractors that were ferrying cane from Oyani Maasai zone in Narok County.

They vowed not to allow ferrying of sugarcane from Narok County to either Migori or Kisii counties and efforts by Sony staff to remove the barricades were fruitless.

The farmers insisted they would only allow empty tractors to pass.

"We have been here since morning and we are ready for anything. What angers us most is the fact that our canes are rotting in the fields. We are not allowed to sell our produce to Trans Mara Factory even after registering with them," said Johnson Were, a farmer at Oyani Maasai.

Migori Governor Okoth Obado was forced to intervene via the phone in a bid to restore order.

"I have been briefed about the matter and I held a meeting with the factory staff. Right now we are looking for a solution. I will meet Narok Governor Samuel Tunai this week to discuss the issue. Let us be patient and wait for the outcome," Mr Obado told the farmers on a phone loud speaker.

The demonstration comes barely a week after Trans Mara Factory management issued a day notice, barring over 13,000 cane farmers from Kisii and Migori counties from using the Oyani weighbridge, thus being unable to sell their cane to the factory.

On Monday, Obado held a lengthy meeting with the miller's management over the matter. He described the move as economic sabotage, which is likely to cause conflict.