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Nyong'o opposes the government's plans to lease sugar mills

Kisumu governor Anyang Nyong'o speaks as he presided distribution of over 500 wheelchairs, clutches walking canes and walking frames to his constituents from all the Kisumu 32 wards. [Michael Mute, Standard]

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o has opposed plans by the National Government to lease sugar mills arguing that it will return the people to abject rural poverty, land grab and ethnic upheavals.

Nyong'o has said the lease transition must be halted because it happened without proper stakeholder involvement and under the cloak of secrecy.

In a press statement to media houses, Nyong'o said as a county government they are dismayed to learn that the planned leasing of Chemelil Sugar Factory and Muhoroni Sugar Factory has been fast-tracked and finalized. 

"We firmly oppose this opaque lease plan, which ignores the social fabric, existing infrastructure, and public interests in sugar belt sub-counties like; Muhoroni, Kisumu East, and Nyando," he noted.

The Governor has said this plan threatens to dismantle community livelihoods and invites monopolistic exploitation.

He said according to recent developments Chemelil sugar factory is to be leased to Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries Ltd.

"A company only 16 years old for 30 years. Muhoroni Sugar Company, a 62-year-old company with a milling capacity of 2200 tonnes per day is to be leased to Kipchimchim group, the operator of West Valley Sugar Company which has been in operation for barely 17 months with a production capacity of 1600 tones and no nucleus land or even a single mature cane for 30 years," argued Governor Nyong'o.

The Governor further noted that his government is gravely concerned that the prime nucleus land of Miwani Sugar mills is being transferred through opaque arrangements.

"It is being transferred to Crossley Holdings Limited, despite ongoing court litigation (Miwani Sugar Mills Limited & Ano vs Crossley Holdings Limited, Nagendra Saxena & others). This amounts to criminal activity, circumventing local demands and denying residents a say in the future of their land after the factory’s receivership," he revealed.

He added: "Just last year, the high court stopped International Tender Notice No. MOALD/SDA/IT001/2023-24, leading to a fresh notice in March this year, which has now been rushed to completion."

Governor Nyong'o said that this move is nothing short of daylight robbery.

He argued that this was an economic coup against over 60,000 farmers, involving 15,000 hectares of farmland, essential public offices, churches, mosques, homes, and renowned learning institutions such as Chemelil factory primary, Muhoroni primary, and Miwani estate primary School, alongside several ECD centres.

The Governor added that he does not condone the abuse of due process to grab public assets cheaply for the benefit of private monopolies and fiefdoms and demanded an immediate halt to the leasing process until all the legal and constitutional dictates are addressed and aligned. 

Nyong'o called for urgent broad stakeholders’ engagement, civil society participation, farmer group consultations and a transparent, inclusive process.

"The County Assembly must lead a people-powered resistance against this attack on devolved authority and local livelihoods. We urge the residents of Kisumu County to stand firm and reject this scheme that ignores the voices of those most affected farmers, workers, and communities," he added.