Sugar cane farmers have asked politicians to keep off reform agenda that the government has for the sugar sub-sector.
The farmers alleged that politicians opposed the directives aimed at revitalising the sector deal in sugar businesses through proxies and family members and derive benefits from the chaotic industry.
Led by the Kenya National Alliance of Sugarcane Farmers Organization (KNASFO) chairman Saulo Busolo and vice chairman Charles Atyang, the farmers condemned the 'hustler political-tricksters’, and MPs opposed to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directives on reforming the sector.
The reforms include the gazettement of Crops (Sugar)(General) Regulations, 2020; the announcement for leasing the five state-owned sugar mills and suspension of all brown sugar imports; pre-shipment approvals and extension of all sugar imports permits.
The reforms are set to address public policy issues in the industry - competitiveness, productivity, production, efficiency and competition.
“They are upset with CS Peter Munya's action and resolve to implement sugar industry reforms agreed upon by stakeholders as summed up in the Governor Wycliffe Oparanya-led National Sugar Task Force Report,” Busolo said.
He noted that the “self-serving” political entrepreneurs think they can come into the political arena and make their name on wild statements about the sugar industry.
He cited an MP's opposition to the suspension of sugar imports by the government.
“Such are politicians whose motives are intended to destabilise the sugar industry, bring it into disrepute and cause it irreparable damage,” he told the media in Kisumu.
Busolo added that these politicians have never influenced the formulation of policy, legislation and regulatory framework to govern a sustainable low-cost profitable industry while in Parliament.
Worse is their absence in the budget cycle, he said. “This is a political threat whose purpose is to create uncertainty in the industry such that nobody expresses interest in investing, besides serving to stall recent reforms enunciated by the CS.”
The farmers reminded such politicians that they are key private sector players who supply 92 per cent of raw materials to Kenya's sugar millers.
“We fully back President Kenyatta's steadfast focus to reform the industry,” he said.
Atyang said politicians should stay away from farmers' business and avoid politics in the sector.
Edited by R.Wamochie
