Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture has been asked to summon Cabinet Minister Sally Kosgey over the controversy surrounding the appointment of Nzoia Sugar Company chairman.
Cabinet Minister Soita Shitanda and MPs Eugene Wamalwa and Bonny Khalwale said committee chairman John Mututho should ask Kosgey to end the leadership confusion at the Bungoma-based mill.
The company is faced with a leadership dispute after former chairman Julius Nyarotso insisted that he was still in office whereas one of the directors, John Munyasia, was appointed to replace him.
Nyarotso on Monday said he is yet to receive any communication from Government authorities regarding his replacement.
“ I only heard the matter being discussed on a local radio station. Nobody has told me to quit the office as the chairman,” said Nyarotso who was speaking in Mumias town.
Shitanda (Housing) Khalwale and Wamalwa claimed the removal of Nyarotso was political as ODM leadership wanted to have the holder of the office to be its supporter.
The New Ford Kenya leaders asked Mututho to take up the matter and ensure that the report is tabled in parliament for debate. “The factory can collapse if we allow leadership wrangles to persist,” said Wamalwa.
Wamalwa said it was sad that ODM is awarding parliamentary losers of the last General Elections in Bungoma County in order to reclaim its popularity in the region a head of the next General Elections.
He explained that the sugar industry should have professionals at the top positions if farmers and other players in the industry are to benefit.
Shitanda said the sugar industry is being mismanaged because of poor leadership. He explained that it was unfair for the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) to operate for over two months without a board of directors.
He further said farmers should be paid better as millers are getting exorbitant profits from the business.
He said it is ironical that Butali is the highest paying sugar factory yet is the latest entrant in the sector.
Shitanda said Mumias Sugar Company should be ready to adjust its prices to farmers before next year. “We shall be operating under Kakamega County and problems facing cane farmers will be tackled collectively,” said Shitanda.
He explained that they will not allow farmers in Butali and West Kenya to be paid more than those in Mumias.
Wamalwa who is the Saboti MP, Shitanda (Malava) and Khalwale (Ikolomani) were speaking at Boma Grounds in Mumias constituency during a funds drive meeting for drivers, stage conductors and boda boda taxi operators.
Over Sh1.5 million was raised in an event presided over by suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto.
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