Azimio accuse State of crippling economy in Western region

The government of side-lining the western region by closing sugar factories and failing to distribute the cheap fertiliser to farmers in the areas.

Addressing a news conference yesterday, the coalition led by Leader of Minority Opiyo Wandayi, claimed that the Kenya Kwanza government was determined to cripple the economy of the Western region following its continued silence on the matters.

Accompanied by MP Kisumu Central Joshua Oron, Wandayi claimed that the government’s decision to shut down the sugar companies had allowed private sugar factories owned by cartels and powerful individuals to mill sugar and sell it to Kenyans at the expense of state owned factories.
Said Wandayi: “we continue to believe that this denial of access to subsidised fertiliser is meant to drive a political agenda of the Kenya Kwanza regime and punish these two communities. As if the denial is not cruel enough, the decision by the Kenya Kwanza regime to close sugar mills in Nyanza and Western Kenya is equally meant to shut down the other known thriving avenues for these communities to earn and make a living.”

He added: “As leaders of these communities, we are deeply disturbed by recent policies by KK regime that appear to be tailored to target, isolate, and systematically kill the economic base of these communities.”
Wandayi who questioned the motive behind the closure of five sugar mills in western and Nyanza region said that they read a political pattern and agenda to create a sugar crisis in order to open up the window for importation of sugar.

His statement comes after Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) last month ordered temporary the closure of sugarcane milling factories for four months over alleged sugar cane shortage.

In the letter, AFA said that a sugarcane census would be undertaken within the next two months to determine the actual cane situation.

AFA stated that there would be a deficit of cane production totalling 951,195 tonnes by June 2023.
Cease operations.

The shortage affects Kibos, Sony, Mumias, Sukari and Kwale sugar factories.
“Sugarcane milling operations in Western temporarily cease operations with immediate effect for a period of four months to allow sugarcane to mature,” AFA acting director Jude Chesire said.