Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

President William Ruto has announced that his administration had successfully cleared the accrued debts amounting to Ksh117 billion owed to various sugar companies in the Western region.

Addressing a crowd during the Interdenominational Prayer Service at the Approved School Grounds in Kakamega County on Sunday, February 4, Ruto expressed his determination to tackle the challenges facing the sugar sector, noting the economic burden of importing sugar from foreign countries.

He asserted that, unlike the previous governments that tried to fix the sugar crisis, his administration has managed to write off the staggering debts.

“Hapa Western, ndio nitaingilia ii maneno ya sukari, kwa sababu tunatumia pesa nyingi kama Kenya kuagiza sukari kutoka nchi za nje, ndo nikasema tuko na hatua tatu ya kutatua ii shida ya sukari. Tatizo kubwa ilikua ya madeni. Tulikua na madeni ya kampuni za sukari Ksh117 billion,” Ruto declared.

The Head of State acknowledged the immense impact of the staggering debt on the sugar companies, hindering their ability to operate efficiently.

“Nyinyi mnajua kuhesabu billion? Imeangaisha iii makampuni yote, iwezi kusonga. Serikali zingine zilijaribu, nilijaribu nikiwa waziri wa kilimo, Uhuru alijaribu. Just as I promised you, I have written them off,” he assured.

He announced that just like Nzoia Sugar Company where farmers had been freed from their debts, Muhoroni, Chemilil Soni, and Miwani companies’ farmers have also benefitted from the debt relief.

“Sasa, kampuni zetu zote, tumewapa certificate, za kuonyesha hawana madeni. I want to confirm that the government has written off Nzoia Sugar’s debt of Ksh50 billion. Your company is free…we have done the same to the Muhoroni, Chemelil, Soni, and Miwani all totalling up to Ksh117 billion,” he declared.

He also called out the management of the companies noting that stringent measures would be put in place warning them against stealing from hardworking farmers and workers.

Ruto also reassured farmers, promising the newly appointed management would prioritize timely payments to farmers and workers.

“Changamoto ingine ni usimamizi. Mambo ya usimamizi kwa kampuni izi, tutasuluhisha. Hakutakuwa na wezi na wakora wanaoibia wakulima. Hao wakora nishawafukuza,” he said.