MORE than 100 sugarcane farmers in Busia county have protested at plans to halt the construction of the proposed Busia Sugar Factory. The farmers marched from the High Court precints to Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong’s office.
Busia Outgrowers Co-operative Organisation chairman, Stephen Omuse said the farmers are opposed to the instroduction of a weighbridge. He said farmers want the county and national governments to support the construction fo the new sugar firm.
Omuse said some individuals in the sugar industry have frustrated efforts to build the new sugar factory. He said farmers might be forced to remove weighbridges in Busia county if the construction plans are shelved.
Two farmers from Kakamega county Joseph Owino and Aggrey Sagala moved to court to blocking NEMA from sanctioning the construction of Busia Sugar Factory saying it contravened the law.
“Busia farmers have suffered for a long time and want to reap the benefits of having the factory in Busia like employment and favourable prices,” he said. Ojaamong' said the county government will not accept attempts to frustrate investors who are willing to invest in the county.
He said the county government has hired a lawyer to help in the case. “I want more industries set up in Busia county even if they will employ one person. Tactics of trying to block development will be resisted by my administration,” Ojaamong said.
He said the more than 1,000-acres Nasewa Rarm has been lying idle. Ojamoong' said the farm can be cultivated to boost food production in the county. The case came up for mention yesterday before Busia High Court Judge Francis Tuiyot.
