The Jubilee government is controlled by sugar barons who will kill the economy by importing cheap sugar, Cord leader Raila Odinga has declared.
In the first of his sugar rallies, Raila yesterday said there is a huge ship in the Indian Ocean, known as the "mother ship" and "loaded with counterfeit sugar from Brazil to Uganda ready to be shipped into Kenya."
He was speaking at Busia Polytechnic grounds in the first of his series of rallies denouncing imports.
There are many sugar barons in Uganda, including a government minister, Raila said.
This Ugandan minister shipped cheap sugar into Kenya after it was first labelled branded in Dubai and later rebranded as Mumias Sugar, the former Prime Minister said.
This incident is well known because the case was before a Ugandan court and in a Mombasa court where the minister was adversely mentioned, Raila said.
The Cord leader said the war against importation of cheap sugar will continue as long as a few individuals in the government are benefiting at the expense of citizens.
The opposition will not sit back and watch the Jubilee government ruin the economy of Western sugarcane farmers, he said.
Raila said that in Trans Nzoia, Chemilil and Sony farmers have been stuck with their wasted crop for more than three years, as the companies don’t buy cane for lack of storage space in godowns.
“The godowns and the market are flooded with cheap sugar and this has made it impossible for cane farmers to sell their product," he said.
At the same time, research has shown Uganda has a shortage of sugar, hence, it is in no position to export to Kenya, Raila said.
The Cord leader said what Kenyans want is industrial sugar to make soft drinks and nothing else.
Raila said he will continue to fight for the welfare of mwananchi, as previous regimes have derailed the economy.
“No one should blame me for the current poor status of the country’s economy when I have never been at the helm of power. The furthest I went was as Prime Minister and everyone say all that I did," Raila said.
He said Kenyans are poor because of Uhuru's father’s style of leadership, adding that he has emulated Jomo Kenyatta.The Jubilee coalition has made Kenyans poorer than the Narc coalition in which hew as Prime Minister.
Raila was flanked by Western leaders led by Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, Busia Senator Amos Wako, ODM chairman John Mbadi, ODM secretary general Ababu Namwamba, Siaya Governor Cornell Rasanga, Matayos MP Geoffrey Odanga and Suna MP Junet Mohamed.
They promised to rally behind Raila's campaign against cheap sugar imports.
Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwamba said they had thought President Uhuru's cheque of Sh1 billion to Mumias Sugar Company was to help revive the crippled factory, but it turned out to be the firm's "death certificate".
"Then he went to Kampala to conduct the funeral ceremony for Mumias Sugar," Ababu said.