President William Ruto has blamed poor management and systemic embezzlement for the collapse of state-owned sugar factories, leaving thousands of cane farmers in poverty and despair.
The president who is on a three-day development tour in Migori county while peaking during an interdenominational prayer service held at Kadika Primary School, Suna East in Migori County on Sunday, questioned where funds received from sale of sugar disappears to as farmers languish in miseries.
He decried it is unrealistic for sugar millers can collect cane from farmers, mill it and sell the produce and when it is time to pay farmers, there is no money.
“How comes there is no money paid to farmers, no salaries for employees, yet money goes in from sugar sale. What happened? The issue is mismanagement,” he questioned.
“There is no way sugar millers can collect cane from farmers, mill it and sell the produce and when it is time to pay farmers, there is no money and even employees go unpaid,’ added president Ruto.
The Head of State promised radical reforms, including a new leasing framework for sugar mills, aimed at commercializing operations and ensuring timely payment to farmers and employees.
His remarks come amid growing discontent among sugarcane farmers in the western region, who have long decried delayed payments, deteriorating infrastructure, and the lack of accountability in sugar mill operations.
“We are going to lease the mills to serious investors. Every month, farmers will be paid for their cane, just like tea, coffee, maize, and wheat farmers.” He revealed.
Dr. Ruto assured residents that his government is committed to restoring dignity in the agricultural sector and building an economy that benefits farmers.
“We want to put money in the pockets of the common mwananchi. Farmers deserve bonuses. We are going to fix it,” he said.
Cabinet Secretary also attended the event for National Treasury John Mbadi and his Energy counterpart Opiyo Wandayi.
CS Mbadi lauded the inclusion of key road projects in the current financial year’s budget, marking a historic first for the county.
The CS revelaved that in this financial year, he has signed funds, which will see construction of various roads across the county, terming it as the first time Migori is seeing this level of attention.
‘I have signed funds which will see the construction of the Kanyawanga–Dede–Rapogi road, the Stella-Gogo road, and the Posta–Maccalder road in the national budget,” said Mbadi.
He also noted the government’s plan to complete stalled roads in Kuria East and West, and pledged more resources to fast-track projects like the Ngege–Mapera road and the construction of a national industrial park in Maccalder.
Mbadi further highlighted the recent upgrade of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (Russia Hospital) in Kisumu to a Level 6 facility, a move he said will reduce the burden on Kenyatta and Moi national referral hospitals.
“I signed the Cabinet Memo that made this possible. This year alone, the hospital will receive Sh3.2 billion from the national government.
This is a triple of what it used to get from the county government of Kisumu,” he said.
Similarly, Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi, on his part, announced major upgrades in the region’s power infrastructure, citing the expansion of the Gogo Hydro Power Plant in Uriri Constituency.
“The Gogo plant, which has been stuck at 2MW since independence, is now being expanded to 8.6MW,” he said.
“We are also building a new line from Awendo to Isebania and a modern substation in Kuria.”
He further disclosed that the ministry would launch a multi-billion-shilling rural electrification programme starting in Awendo, set to benefit the entire Migori County under the Last Mile Connectivity initiative.
The interdenominational prayer service was attended by all leaders from Migori county headed by governor Dr.Ochillo Ayacko, who rallied his support for the government and president Ruto.
Ayacko revealed that presidential visit will bring more development to the county and urged other leaders to put aside political difference and work for the electorates.
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