This archive report was first published on 8 August 2020.
On August 3, 2020, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya issued a gazette notice revoking the appointments of board members of three State-owned sugar millers, Nzoia, Miwani, and Chemelil. This move aims to pave the way for the millers to be leased out to interested investors.
According to the notice, the appointments of the board members were revoked with effect from July 16, 2020. The affected board members include Joash Wamang'oli (chairman), Michael Wanjala (managing director), Hillary Chongwony (director), Tom Ipomai (director), Karen Kandie (director), Anne Omodho (director), and Mary Makokha, as well as Richard Njoba, Zakayo Magara, Stephen Kisaka, Patrick Musumba, and Stephen Ikiiki.
Businessman Zedekiah Bundotich of Chemilil and Owino Likowa of Sony Sugar were also kicked out through a separate gazette notice. The move comes after Munya visited the region three weeks ago and announced that Nzoia Sugar had a cumulative debt of Sh11 billion. He stated that the government had waived the money owed to the Kenya Revenue Authority, but the other debts would need to be restructured.
Already, 29 companies have expressed interest in running the ailing millers and returning them to profitability. Senior Nzoia Sugar managers are being investigated over sugar theft.
