This archive report was first published on 30 June 2021.
June 30, 2021 - The Ministry of Agriculture has been urged to appoint boards of management for three State-owned sugar millers to improve efficiency.
The call comes from Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) governors, who claim that the absence of boards has led to turmoil in the management of Chemelil, Sony, and Nzoia sugar companies.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya stated that the managing directors of the companies have no one to account to, leading to a lack of direction and decision-making.
The bloc's chairman warned that any delays in appointing the boards could worsen the situation in the already ailing companies.
The government had dissolved the boards in July 2020, intending to give room for the leasing process and hand over the management to private entities.
However, the Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers (Kuspaw) has pointed out that the lack of boards is paralysing some key functions of the millers, including the approval of significant programmes and financial obligations.
General Secretary Francis Wangara stated that most managers have been forced to suspend making critical decisions involving huge sums of money without the relevant approvals.
