A section of lawmakers allied to the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition has condemned recent remarks by President William Ruto targeting ‘cartels’ in the sugar industry.

Speaking in Bungoma yesterday, the Head of State accused influential businessmen fighting over the control of Mumias Sugar Company of frustrating efforts to revive ailing public sugar millers in the Western region.

Addressing members of the press outside Parliament buildings on Tuesday, August 29, Azimio senators led by minority leader Stewart Madzayo termed the president’s comments telling the tycoons to be ready to be deported, jailed or go to heaven as reckless, adding that they pose a threat to investors in the country.

“We Azimio condemn such utterances made by the president since this is a democratic country governed by the rule of law and the ripple effect of such statements cannot be off-stated,” Senator Madzayo said.

“I am enraged by the reckless remarks at a roadside meeting in Bungoma concerning the alleged cartels frustrating the sugar industry. It is quite disturbing to hear that a whole president is threatening investors in Kenya by claiming that they are arrested, deported or taken to heaven.”

The Azimio lawmakers poked holes into Ruto’s remarks, saying businessman Jaswant Singh Rai has the right to own a business in the country.

“What message is the president sending to investors not supporting him? Does it mean that if your political views differ with the president you risk falling short of his wrath? Senator Madzayo posed.

The senators said despite the rot in the sugar sector in the country, there were better ways of addressing the issues.

“Mr Rai has a right of running to own and run businesses…even though he is being accused of frustrating the revival of the sugar industry there are better ways of addressing this other than the president of a democratic country issuing threats by the roadside,” he said.

They asked the Head of State to retract the comments and apologise.

The president yesterday said no private investor had paid any money for the purchase of Mumias Sugar Company and ordered that any court case touching on the miller be withdrawn immediately.

“I have told all those people there to leave,” President Ruto said during a stop over in Bungoma.

“Let them withdraw the court case and move out. I have told them there are only three options left, they either move out, go to jail or embark on the journey to heaven,” Ruto warned.

He also noted that the government had fresh plans to revive the cash-strapped company, including writing off its debts.