Senator Boni Khalwale of Kakamega has spoken out against plans to privatize Mumias and Nzoia Sugar companies.
Khalwale stated that the government should not let off the sugar mills because they are at the heart of the Luhya community.
He stated that the Luhya community takes pride in its farms and has donated ancestral lands to have Mumias and Nzoia sugar domiciled in Western Kenya.
“Mimi kama Kiongozi wa jamii ya waluhya. Babu zetu walipeana 12,500 hectares of Mumias Sugar company na wakapeana 24,500 hectares of the Nzoia sugar company. If you privatize, someone will go away with our ancestral land. Sisi hatuezi unga mkono. We cannot,” he said.
Instead of privatizing the sugar factories, Khalwale urged the government to address the challenges faced by the factories.
“This is not out of disrespect for the president and the government. That is the little we have in the economy of the sugar industry,” he said. He said the real challenge is the importation of Sugar which can be addressed easily.
The Senator is the most recent leader to speak out against plans to privatize parastatals.
Raila Odinga, the leader of Azimio, also condemned Cabinet’s decision to give Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u authority to privatize state corporations.
