Cane Farmers Call for Consolidation of Cases

Kenya National Sugarcane Alliance Organization has called for the consolidation of 7 cases currently before court on the leasing of five state owned mills.

The National Chairman of the Organization Charles Atyang says the cases have been dragging thus frustrating the governments’ effort to revive the mills. The mills include, Chemelil, Muhoroni, SoNY, Nzoia, and Miwani.

Atyang says farmers are struggling and they would like to see the cases heard and determined to give the government space to revamp the sugar sector.

Speaking to the press in Kisumu, Atyang says the Organization leadership will seek an audience with the Chief Justice next week over the matter.

He says they want to petition the office of CJ to consolidate the cases and have them expedited for the interest of the farmers.

Atyang says farmers are owed huge chunks of money for the cane they delivered in the mills and have been hoping that leasing will take off to have the arrears paid.

Secretary of the Organization Richard Ogendo took offence with the Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers Secretary General Francis Wangara who moved to court to stop the process.

Ogendo says workers are equally suffering since they are working and the mills are not remitting salary, with Chemelil sugar company workers currently on strike.

He says Wangara should withdraw the case to allow the government to proceed with the process.

Ogendo says it is ironic that the workers union is in court to block the process yet workers are complaining of no salary with arrears running into millions of shillings.