Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has approved the summoning of Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi to explain Kenya Kwanza administration’s strategies to resuscitate the sector.
Lawmakers from sugarcane growing areas want the government to give practical solutions to the challenges that led to the collapse of many factories in the region.
They say the economy of the entire Western region is on its knees since the collapse and closure of sugar factories after they incurred heavy losses allegedly due to corruption and poor management.
“The Agriculture committee should summon the Cabinet Secretary in charge of agriculture to explain the measures taken by the national government to ensure productivity and profitability,” Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda said.
He demanded to know how the government will address the challenges facing cane farmers, including nonpayment for produce delivered to factories.
The sugar industry debate has always been emotive in Parliament as leaders from sugar belt regions have been accusing the government of turning a deaf ear to farmers' woes.
“The committee should investigate allegations of persistent challenges surrounding policy formulation and implementation, management of the sugar factories, and financial woes that have led to the decline of sugar production and resultant closure of sugar factories,” Ojienda said.
Nominated Senator Cathrine Mumma blamed politicisation of the management of the sector for the collapse of factories.
“Sugar farmers in this country, whether from Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma or Nandi counties, are all suffering because we have politicised the management of the sugar industry,” she said.
“Most of these sugar factories are leased to private actors, who are no better than what the parastatals were.”
The government's plan to privatise five loss-making sugar factories to turn around their fortunes has been in the pipeline. The five are Nzoia, Chemelil, Muhoroni, South Nyanza and Miwani.
However, the plan by the Privatization Commission has yet to be actualised.
Baringo Senator William Cheptumo called for fast-tracking of privatisation plans to revive the millers.
“I wish to add that we must expedite the process of privatisation. The reason Uganda continues to produce more sugar than us is that 20 years ago, Uganda took the decision to privatise what were public mills,” he said.
“Since then, they have become extremely profitable. They have a surplus and that is why they feed us.”
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi said Western leaders and residents are looking forward to the revival of the factories, especially Mumias Sugar Company.
“We expect the support of President William Ruto. One of the things he promised in the Kenya Kwanza Coalition Pact was the full revival of Mumias Sugar Company,” he held.
Osotsi said there has been lack of political goodwill to re-engineer the sugar industry as some of those tasked with overseeing the sector have vested interests.
“This is not there because some of the policymakers are the ones who import sugar since it is profitable. They do not want the industry to thrive because they will lose business,” he said.
