Busia County Governor Paul Otuoma has said that reviving the two ailing sugar factories in the region won’t tackle the unemployment crisis currently felt.
“Those sugar factories that the leaders are fighting day and night to be revived are very old and if revived cannot employ all of us, we need new avenues to accommodate youths,” he said.
To achieve the government’s economic transformation agenda, Otuoma said residents should be empowered with digital knowledge for smart farming.
He added that more extension officers should be employed to teach residents about the new farming methods.
On Monday, while on his Western Kenya tour, President William Ruto visited the Nzoia Sugar factory in Bungoma and announced that the government has written off debts amounting to Sh50 billion.
Ruto argues that the move to remove debts from the sugar facility aims at salvaging the factory and bringing it back to its normal production.
Otuoma also blamed Western Kenya leaders for always fighting the revival of the sugar industries in the region.
“Our work is to fight for the revival of the sugar industry in the Western region yet we ourselves have brought nothing that can help our people,” Otuoma added.
The Busia governor lauded President Ruto for scheduling a five-day tour in the region assuring him of his support.
