Ruto pushes for sale of sugar

MPs want reforms to be implemented urgently in the sugar industry. Their call comes just two weeks after a committee to handle the sale of sugar-milling firms was formed.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday after meeting players in the industry, Agriculture minister William Ruto said the sale of government-owned sugar mills had to be done within the next 14 months.

Mr Ruto said the privatisation was “10 years late” and, therefore, had to be expedited to cushion the industry from cheap imports when the industry is fully liberalised.

Sugar imports from the Common Market of East and Southern Africa are expected to flood the market come February 2012. Mr Ruto’s call to have the milling firms sold comes a day after he disclosed a Sh58 billion debt by the firms.

source: dailynation