Bungoma governor Wycliffe Wangamati has called on the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture to involve Bungoma county in the task force lookin into sugarcane farmer’s debt arrears.
Wangamati said for a thorough report to be given Bungoma famers who have suffered for a while and now their predicaments must be on the team.
The task force is chaired by Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya with Homabay governor Okoth Obado his Kisumu counterpart Anyang Nyong’o and two members of Parliament from Kakamega. During the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kakamega,Uhuru urged Oparanya and Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri to form and co-chair a task force to come up with a framework on how to revive the sugar sector.
In his speech, the President directed the Ministry of Agriculture and National Treasury to immediately put in place a framework to pay sugarcane farmers their Sh2.6 billion arrears owed by public millers after auditing the amount.
The money is owed to farmers by Mumias, Sony, Muhoroni, Nzoia, Chemilil and Miwani sugar companies. “This money is for farmers and must go to them,” the President said.
Wangamati said that Bungoma County, host to Nzoia sugar company and Mumias farmers, is not represented in the task force. ‘I call on the minister to consider us on that task force”, said the Governor.
Speaking in Kabuchai during burial of his aunt, Wangamti said farmers will get paid, as agreed upon by the President and leaders from cane growing zone.
