Bungoma MPs Pile Pressure on William Ruto to Revoke Jaswant Rai’s Nzoia Sugar Factory Lease
- Some Members of Parliament from Bungoma county have questioned the lease of the Nzoia Sugar Company to tycoon Jaswant Rai
- Led by Kabuchai’s Majimbo Kalasinga and his Bumula counterpart, Jack Wamboka, the MPs claimed the lease was against the will of the people
- The two appealed to President William Ruto to cancel the lease and re-advertise the tender on the basis that Rai Group has a ‘bad history’
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A section of Members of Parliament (MPs) from Bungoma county has asked President William Ruto to cancel the 30-year lease of Nzoia Sugar Company to tycoon Jaswant Rai.
Source: UGC
Why Bungoma MPs are against the Nzoia Sugar factory lease
Led by Kabuchai’s Majimbo Kalasinga and his Bumula counterpart, Jack Wamboka, the legislators questioned the manner in which the government handled the lease deal.
The two claimed that the lease of the factory, which has been struggling financially, was against the will of local leaders and the people.
“Nzoia Sugar Company was a gift given to us by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, a man who saw that the Kenyanization of the sugar industry would benefit employment for the owners of this place and boost the production of sugar in the country to curb the demand on the market,” Kalasinga said in a media briefing in Bungoma on Sunday, May 11.
The Ford Kenya MP further wondered why the government had opted to lease the factory instead of supporting it.
He pointed out that during the 2022 general election campaigns, President Ruto had pledged to unveil a new mill at the Nzoia sugar within 100 days of his government.
“The President promised while at Amutala stadium in Kimilili during the economic forum that he would bring a new mill at Nzoia sugar once he is voted in. What has come to pass is the opposite,” the Kabuchai MP said.
He further claimed the Rai Group was set to rename the Nzoia Sugar Company after securing the lease.
Source: UGC
On his part, Bumula MP wondered why the government had gone further to lease the factory, yet there was an existing court order, secured by the Attorney General, stopping the process.
Which other factories has Rai Group leased?
Wamboka further claimed the new investor had a bad history, singling out the collapse of Mumias Sugar Company and Webuye Pan Paper Mill.
“We have refused the lease of Nzoia Sugar, and we are not going to allow him to step on the company’s premises,” Wamboka said.
The legislator challenged other Bungoma leaders, including National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Governor Kenneth Lusaka, to ask the head of state to hear their pleas and revoke the tendering deal.
“I want to ask the President of Kenya concerning the cancellation of Rai’s contract and re-advertising. I suspect mischief in these tendering bids. Why is it that other millers have been given different investors but Nzoia handed it to Rai?” added Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera.
Chemilil and Muhoroni sugar mills' new leadership
TUKO.co.ke previously reported that Chemelil and Muhoroni Sugar Companies were set for a fresh start after new management took over.
Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries Limited took control of Chemelil Sugar Company while West Valley Sugar Company is the new management for Muhoroni Sugar factory.
Workers and farmers in the two companies welcomed the new management with enthusiasm.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Joshua Cheloti (Editorial assistant) Joshua Cheloti is a multi-skilled journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Communication at Mount Kenya University. At TUKO, he's an editorial assistant. Before TUKO, he worked at Nairobi Review as an editorial writer, at Hope Media (Hope TV and Hope FM) as a correspondent in Eldoret, Hivisasa.com digital content editor and online writer, at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB), Eldoret as Radio Presenter. Email: [email protected]
Tony Wafula Tony Wafula is a talented journalist with a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from Dominion Training Institute (ICM) 2017-2019. Known for his exceptional storytelling abilities, Wafula has earned recognition for his outstanding contributions to journalism. He is particularly dedicated to gender-responsive reporting, and his commitment to promoting gender equality through his work has earned him accolades in the field. Tony is based in Bungoma county. He is accredited by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
