- He emphasised that reforms were being undertaken to breathe life into the struggling public sugar factories across the country.
- The President assured the residents that there were no plans to sell or privatise Nzoia Sugar Factory.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto has said the government has begun paying Sh300 million owed to farmers by Nzoia Sugar company.
The President said the Sh1.7 billion approved by MPs will significantly support the revival plans for the ailing sugar sector in the country.
Speaking on Thursday at the Nzoia Sugar Factory grounds in Bungoma County, Ruto said all Nzoia farmers will receive their money in the next two days.
He emphasised that reforms were being undertaken to breathe life into the struggling public sugar factories across the country.
"I want to assure you that a situation where farmers deliver their cane to the factory and are not paid will not happen again. A situation where workers are not paid their salaries will not happen again," Ruto said.
The President said the new Nzoia company management must be ready to pay farmers and workers on time besides paying the county government of Bungoma between Sh300 million and Sh500 million a year.
"I shall meet with your leaders and agree on the correct formula because most privatised companies can pay their farmers and workers. This means the main problem at these public factories is poor management and not sugar cane farming," he added.
The President assured the residents that there were no plans to sell or privatise the Nzoia Sugar company.
"I want to assure you that we will have a new management that will pay farmers and workers their dues and salaries on time," he added.
He said the government will allocate Sh500 million each to Nzoia, Chemilil, Sony and Muhoroni sugar factories to increase production.
"We will increase funds to the four sugarcane factories to enable farmers to produce more so that Kenya stops importing sugar into the country," he said.
Ruto also announced that Bungoma will benefit from Sh1.2 billion to connect 25,000 residents to electricity.
He was accompanied by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Speaker of National Assembly Moses Wetang'ula, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wa, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha, Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka, MPs and MCAs.
Gachagua called on leaders to work together and provide solutions to challenges instead of creating more problems.
"Problems at Nzoia are internal and leaders should work together to resolve them," he said.
Wetang'ula called for teamwork and unity in solving problems facing sugarcane farmers and asked leaders to stop dividing the people out of malice and ignorance.
He praised Ruto for his tireless efforts to revive public sugar factories in the country.
The President launched the construction of the Naitiri fresh produce market in Tongaren that will serve more than 2,000 traders, including Mama Mboga.
The facility will also provide linkages with the local economy as part of the government’s revitalisation of the markets programme.