Mudavadi okays licensing of Butali Sugar Mills

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has said further delays in giving Butali Sugar Mills a crushing license would be "immoral".Mudavadi regretted that investments by the entrepreneur and more than 31,000 sugarcane farmers are going to waste.

He, however, noted that Government authorities are currently holding talks with the view of helping the factory commence operations by the end of the month.

Speaking to farmers at the factory in Kakamega North District, Mudavadi noted that Prime Minister Raila Odinga was consulting Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei and Attorney General Amos Wako on the way forward.

"I was supposed to attend the meeting with Housing Minister Soita Shitanda, but we chose to visit the factory first," he added.

He continued: "I have come, I have seen, I have touched. It is true the factory is ready to commence operations."

Mudavadi, Shitanda and assistant minister Manyala Keya expressed hopes that the stalemate will be resolved soon.

Mudavadi said he had written to President Kibaki and Raila requesting for their intervention after receiving a petition from farmers.

Pending case

Shitanda said Kenya Sugar Board and West Kenya Sugar Company should withdraw a case pending in court blocking licensing of the factory.

"The Attorney General has been brought on board so that legal advice can be provided," said Mudavadi.

Shitanda noted that more than 1,200 workers are set to be employed at the factory, adding that he expects parents from the sugar belt to use part of cane payments to pay school fees for their children.

"We are struggling to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country and this factory is one of the alternatives we have in Kakamega County," said Shitanda, who is the Malava MP.

Keya said the sugar industry should not be dominated by a clique of investors. He said Kenya Sugar Board should allow Butali to start crushing cane to reduce sugar deficit that currently stands at 200,000 metric tones.

He explained that importation of cheap sugar will come to an end if more factories are established.

Kenya Sugar cane Growers Association Secretary General Samuel Anyango said his organisation shelved plans of meeting the Prime Minister over the matter after Mudavadi intervened.

Anyango said farmers from other parts of the country are backing the licensing of the factory.

Former MPs Joash Wamang’oli, Masinde Werengai and Nathan Anaswa urged the Government to resolve the controversy immediately.

source: standardmedia