Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has opposed plans to privatise Mumias and Nzoia Sugar companies.
Khalwale said the government should not let off the sugar mills saying the two are at the heart of the Luhya community.
He said the Luhya community prides itself in the farms and that they donated their ancestral lands to have Mumias and Nzoia sugar domiciled in Western Kenya.
"Mimi kama Kiongozi wa jamii ya waluhya. Babu zetu walipeana 12,500 hectares of Mumias Sugar company na wakapeana 24,500 hectares of the Nzoia sugar company. If you privatise, someone will go away with our ancestral land. Sisi hatuezi unga mkono. We cannot," he said.
He spoke on Saturday in Malava Constituency where churches organised a thanksgiving service.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is among the top leaders who attended the event.
Khalwale went on to urge the state to act on challenges facing the sugar factories rather than privatising them.
"This is not out of disrespect for the president and the government. That is the little we have in the economy of the sugar industry," he said.
He said the real challenge is the importation of Sugar which can be addressed easily.
The Senator is the latest leader to oppose plans to privatise parastatals.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga also condemned Cabinet's move to give Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung'u powers to privatise state corporations.
The Cabinet approved the Privatisation Bill, 2023 which will repeal the Privatisation Act of 2005.
Raila said the privatisation process did not follow due diligence as it never went through Parliament.
"On the other hand, they want to sell government enterprises without passing through Parliament. The government wants to sell public companies to their own people. We are saying no," Raila said.
Raila said that the government cannot sell public properties without Parliament's approval.
