MPs hail proposed sugar bill in effort to streamline industry

Lawmakers have called for a radical surgery in the sugar sector to address the challenges facing the industry.

The MPs who were debating the Sugar Bill sponsored by Navakholo MP Emanuel Wangwe regretted that the sector has been infiltrated by barons who are only keen on advancing their own interests at the expense of farmers.

They claimed that the sugar industry has become a cash cow for the who-is-who in the leadership of the country.

The MPs hailed the proposal to only allow sugar importation to be done when there is a deficit terming it timely as it will kick out individuals who have been importing sugar and later packaging it as locally manufactured.

Promote industry

Led by Wangwe, the MPs supported calls to revive the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) as it will regulate, develop and promote the Sugar Industry as well as co-ordinate the activities of individuals and organisations within the industry.

Said Wangwe: “The principle object of the bill is to reinstate the sugar act which was repealed through the enactment of the crops act 2013. The enactment of the bill shall restore the roles of the Kenya Sugar Board currently undertaken by the Sugar Directorate of the Agriculture and Food Authority.”

The move comes at a time when the National Assembly’s committee on Finance and Planning; and that of Agriculture have commenced a one week long stakeholder engagement in western and Nyanza region as part of its efforts to clear the way for the government to revive five cash-strapped state-owned sugar companies.

Tax penalties

The National Treasury sought the approval of parliament to write off loans and tax penalties worth Sh117.64 billion accrued by five sugar companies namely Nzoia Sugar Company, Chemelil Sugar Company, Miwani and Muhoroni sugar companies currently under receivership and South Nyanza Sugar Company

Leader of Minority and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi admitted that there are people who should be held responsible for the decline of the sector.