Lobby tells sugarcane farmers to vote in caring leaders next year

Sugarcane farmers have vowed to vote in leaders who will champion their rights and address their plight, next year.

Through the Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers, the group said their interests in sugarcane growing counties of Coast, Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley have yet to be met despite several promises.

“We as sugarcane farmers feel our leaders have allowed the government to let us down as a sector, despite having several high profile meetings to air our grievances,” secretary general Ezra Olodi said.

Speaking to the press in Migori town on Monday, Olodi said as farmers they have been waiting for the implementation of the sugar taskforce report commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta to no avail.

Olodi said as farmers they will start by putting to task all current elected leaders from sugarcane growing sectors seeking re-election to show voters what they have done for them.

“The current crop of leadership from sugarcane growing zones will have to tell us the outcome of what close to 20 meetings we had over the sector, have achieved because the sector is still crippling,” Olodi said.

He said through the federation branches and leadership around sugarcane growing zones they have already started to mobilise members to ensure they are registered as voters ahead of the next polls.

“The vetting of the politicians will constitute all candidates from the presidential seat to the lowest cadre at ward level.

"We need to enjoy loan waivers and investments in the sugar sector as seen in tea and coffee in this country and it will start with next elections,” Olodi said.

On February 24, 2020, Kenyatta promised to implement recommendations of the sugar taskforce as part of ongoing efforts to revive the sector which was headed by Agriculture CS Peter Munya and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

“As leaders, ours is to ensure farmers get maximum returns from their sweat,” the President said as he received the report.

The report recommended the re-introduction of the sugar levy, privatisation of public sugar mills to enhance their efficiency and the enactment of the Sugar Act.

The sugar levy will be charged on consumers to raise the revenue needed to assist farmers to develop their sugarcane.

Other proposed reforms include the gazettement of the sugar sector regulations, including import rules, amendment of the AFA Act and the Crops Act in line with the Constitution and a review of the taxation regime to enhance investor incentives.

Olodi said they expect the changes to be effected fully before the next general elections so as to end this cycle where issues revolving around the sugar sector have been used as a political tool by those seeking votes.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)