- Ruto affirmed that his administration would neither privatise nor sell any sugar factory as alleged by some politicians.
- He demanded that the sugar factories start with Sh1 billion and not the Sh600 million offer they had tabled.
Image: William Ruto/x
President William Ruto on Sunday revealed that he had forced sugar millers to pay farmers an annual bonus, starting with Sh1 billion this year.
The President said that like other cash crop farmers like coffee and tea, sugarcane growers must benefit from an annual payout by companies.
Ruto said he had already demanded that the sugar factories start with Sh1 billion and not the Sh600 million offer they had tabled.
"I have sat down with my calculator and told them that they must pay a Sh1 billion bonus and although they are stuck at Sh600 million, I have insisted that they must make it Sh1 billion,'' Ruto said.
Speaking at Kakamega Approved School Grounds, during a church service, the president stated that sugar factory investors must be ready to share their profits with farmers.
“You do not do business without profits, the factory used to mill the sugar even if old, is public property. Whoever is running that factory we have to subdivide profits," Ruto said.
The president revealed that his administration has put in place measures to turn around sugar cane farming across the country even as he asked managers to be accountable.
The president noted that the government had repaid in full debts owed by sugar companies and issued them with certificates to signify they were debt-free.
"Chemelil, Muhoroni, Sony and Nzoia sugar factories have their 'debt-free' certificates, Mumias will be processed soon after a 'small problem of Sh4 billion remaining is sorted out,'' Ruto said.
Ruto said he was yet to settle the case with Mumias sugar company as the government was yet to conclude and sort out issues with tycoons involved in the case.
During the service, Ruto affirmed that his administration would neither privatise nor sell any sugar factory as alleged by some politicians.
The Head of State also revealed that his administration will inject Sh3 billion to support cane development for farmers in the next financial year.
The President termed foolish and irresponsible claims by some politicians that the Kenya Kwanza government is planning to sell several sugar factories on sale.
'"Some leaders are telling the public hot air on issues that are not there. They are saying that our factory will be sold. Let me tell you here in the church that there will be no sale or privatisation of any sugar company,'' Ruto said.