Lusaka, Wetang’ula pummel leaders politicising Nzoia Sugar revival

The Governor of Bungoma County Ken Lusaka has led a powerful team of Mulembe politicians including Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula in lambasting leaders opposed to the revival of Nzoia Sugar company.

Speaking on Friday, May 30, Lusaka called out a section of leaders who have recently opposed the efforts by the government to inject new life into the ailing sugar firm.

Already, he said, Ksh 7.7 million had been disbursed to pay retiree of the sugar firm adding that workers will soon get their dues as promised.

Lusaka urged residents to support the government’s bid aimed at ensuring their livelihoods are improved through the revival of the near defunct factory.

“We need Nzoia to work for farmers to benefit. Retirees said they will come to see me, I don’t have a problem with that. The good news is that Ksh7.7 million has already been sent to pay the retirees of Nzoia as I speak today,” he said.

“And we are here to ensure that you benefit as much as you can. The workers will be paid on time so that they also benefit the way other people are benefiting in other areas,” he added.

On his part, Wetang’ula, told off leaders opposing the Nzoia Sugar Factory resuscitation plan saying they were misleading the public with the intention of reviving their faltering political careers.

The two leaders were speaking at a function where Wetang’ula commissioned a dormitory unit constructed by the Kenya Pipeline Company Foundation at the Cardinal Otunga Girls’ High School and a subsequent event where he laid the foundation stone for the construction of Toroso Primary School in Mt. Elgon Constituency.

The Speaker assured sugarcane farmers that the leasing plan to breathe life into the sugar miller was well intended to restore lost fortunes for those who rely on it.

“The Nzoia Sugar Factory is being revived. Now that the investor has come in, you’ve seen people making noise,” he observed.

“There’s someone who doesn’t even grow sugarcane someone who doesn’t farm anything. Someone like Eugene Wamalwa, I’ve never even heard that he plants groundnuts. Nothing at all. But he’s here, making a lot of noise. People shouldn’t interfere… Let’s improve Nzoia,” he stressed.

Kanduyi MP John Makali also lambasted the opposition leaders saying sugar cane farmers were waiting eagerly to start reaping benefits of their sweat on the farms.

“As Kanduyi MP, Nzoia sugar is in this Constituency. We are in the position of an expectant mother, Nzoia must be able to work, farmers must be paid, workers must be paid, it must remain a heritage for Bungoma people, we cannot do the same thing and expect different results,” Makali said.

Former Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga urged the leaders to ensure transparency in the process.

“My brothers and sisters, make sure that you follow the agreement that the investors signed with the government, so that the farmers of Bungoma benefit,” said Mabonga.

Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli decried the actions of a section of leaders he said were propagating division politics to distract focused leaders from delivering on their mandate, sentiments shared by Speaker Wetang’ula.

“We must work together under the leadership of Speaker Wetang’ula, united we stand divided we fall. It’s unfortunate that some leaders are inciting us to fight and lose focus on developing our county,” Wakoli Stated

“You know, the white man says, an empty can makes the loudest noise. But when a can is full of water or any other substance, you won’t hear much noise from it. We as leaders, don’t have time for mediocrity,” said Wetang’ula.

“We don’t have time for idle talk, we don’t have time for reckless behavior, we don’t have time for continuously irritating others with bad behavior. We want to focus on what is good for the people,” the Speaker asserted.

The leaders vowed to work in solidarity with like-minded colleagues to ensure that Western region is transformed.