Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called out Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for questioning the source of the Ksh.150 million bonus issued to cane farmers in Mumias on Monday.
Mudavadi defended the bonuses issued to the farmers, saying it is their hard-earned money, which signals a new beginning in the management of farmers’ affairs in the sugar sector.
“For many years, tea and coffee farmers have received bonuses for their produce annually. We have not heard anyone raise a voice,” said Mudavadi.
Mudavadi said the government has a proper plan to ensure farmers in other sugar-growing regions also benefit from annual bonuses following a successful inaugural launch that took place at the Mumias Sugar Company.
He said no sideshows will distract the government from delivering its promises to Kenyans, especially farmers, who are the backbone of Kenya’s food security and economic stability.
“Why are some leaders, like Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, bitter now when people from the sugar belt counties of Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga, Kisumu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Homa Bay, and Narok receive their hard-earned bonuses from their toil?” regretted Mudavadi.
Mudavadi was speaking in Busia County on the fifth day of President William Ruto’s tour of the Western Kenya region.
He warned the management of Mumias Sugar Company and other sugar millers in the region to desist from allowing politics to interfere with their daily operations.
He stated that the collapse of sugar mills like Mumias was due to mismanagement of public resources and the swindling of funds through unscrupulous means by individuals who didn’t have the best interests of the employees and farmers at heart.
“Some politicians want to stand on the grounds of populist politics. They can’t make the hard decisions that the President is focusing on. This is why they have no idea where we are getting the funds to pay bonuses to cane farmers,” noted Mudavadi.
“The leaders questioning the whereabouts of the cane farmers’ bonuses are not aware of the suffering these farmers have endured and the patience they have displayed until now,” he regretted.
The Prime CS noted that the revamping of the sugar mills across the sugar belt region will bring positive outcomes for investors, farmers, business people, and contribute to the growth of the country’s GDP through increased revenue collection.
Today’s tour also included the inspection of the Nasewa Export Processing Zone, the Busia County Industrial and Aggregation Park in Matayos Constituency, and the groundbreaking for the rehabilitation and augmentation of the Alupe Dam Water Supply project in Teso South Constituency.
The tour also saw the President launch the last-mile connectivity at Rerekwe-Siebuka in Nambale Constituency, Busia County.
