This archive report was first published on 14 June 2021.
On June 14, 2021, a group of sugarcane farmers from Busia, Bungoma, and Kakamega held a demonstration at Ekero area in Mumias over the planned leasing of the stalled Mumias Sugar Factory.
The farmers accused Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya of misadvising the Receiver Manager of Mumias Sugar Company, Ponangipalli Venkata Ramana Rao, to ignore a recent Senate directive on the leasing process.
The Senate's Committee on Agriculture had directed Rao to re-advertise the leasing process afresh within two weeks.
According to the farmers, Governor Oparanya had nine years to revive Mumias Sugar Company but failed, and therefore, should not interfere in the leasing process.
As the farmers put it, 'As farmers, we shall resist any skewed plans to force an investor down our throat. Let the governor finish his term and go home,' said Peter Odima, Secretary-General of the Kenya Association of Sugar and Allied Products.
Another cane farmer, Boniface Manda, asked the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Peter Munya, to ignore any advice from Governor Oparanya, adding that he did not mean well for the stalled sugar miller.
While dismissing the committee's directive, Governor Oparanya said the committee had no powers to direct the receiver-manager on how to carry out the process.
