• He urged residents of the Western region and their leaders to believe in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
• The millers' debts have been waived
Image: CALISTUS LUCHETU
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has told Western Kenya residents and leaders that the revival of the sugar factories is underway.
He said the Cabinet has approved recommendations of the sugar task force report and that sector regulations have been gazetted.
The task force was formed by President Kenyatta and was co-chaired by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri in October 2018.
“I want to assure you that the task force report and the recommendations therein have already been approved by the Cabinet and are on course for implementation,” Wamalwa said.
The CS spoke on Saturday at Masinde Muliro University in Kakamega during a meeting with education stakeholders from the county.
He reiterated that the government has waived off debts owed by the sugar millers as part of the efforts to revive the sector.
"We have earmarked projects that we want completed to benefit our people. Top on the agenda is reviving the sugar sector, reviving stalled projects and initiating new projects like gold and granite factories in Kakamega and Vihiga counties respectively," Wamalwa said.
He dismissed claims that the government did not factor in the projects in its 2020-21 budget.
"The government has the power to allocate funds to any project at any time. Who are you to doubt the President when he says Sh62 Billion owed by our millers has been waived?" he asked, adding that in the next two years, Western will be a transformed region economically.
He said the government has also waived billions of shillings owed by Mumias to the Kenya Revenue Authority. The CS stated that government critics never attended the 64 meetings of the task force and have not even taken time to read its report and recommendations.
Governor Oparanya, who was in the company of the CS, asked leaders from Western to work together to develop the region. He said nobody has a monopoly of ideas, thus all leaders are welcome to share development ideas.
"We have a right to get our share of development from the national government. The region has been getting the least allocation from the national cake. I welcome all leaders to share ideas for the sake of developing this region," he said.
Also present were governors Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma), Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia) and Wilbur Ottichilo (Vihiga).
Others were nominated senators Naomi Shiyonga and Gertrude Musuruve, MPs Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Dr Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren), Wafula Wamunyinyi (Kanduyi), Raphael Wanjala (Budalang'i), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), Elsie Muhanda (Kakamega) and Florence Mutua (Busia).