Lusaka calls for collective effort to support cane farmers
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has urged leaders to stop politicising Nzoia Sugar’s woes and focus on reviving the factory for farmers’ and workers’ welfare. Speaking at a funeral, Lusaka criticised those using the factory’s struggles for political gain, stressing that livelihoods are at stake. He called for unity and collective effort to restore the once-thriving mill.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has urged regional leaders to prioritize the welfare of sugarcane farmers, emphasising the need for collective efforts to support and improve their livelihoods.
Speaking during the funeral service of Mama Rhosa Makhandia in Khasoko ward, the Governor cited an example of Nzoia Sugar Company, where leaders are selling what he termed as cheap politics of how the company was leased instead of focusing on the welfare of farmers.
Lusaka raised an alarm about some leaders exploiting the struggles of the ailing Nzoia Sugar Factory for political gain while farmers and employees continue to suffer.
He emphasised that the factory had once been a critical source of livelihood for many workers and their families. “It is a factory that workers and families relied on for their livelihoods,” he noted.
The Governor pointed out that year after year, politicians use the misfortunes of Nzoia Sugar to gain cheap publicity, while farmers in the region remain unpaid and workers remain demoralised.
Lusaka called on all stakeholders, including the political wing, to address the issues at Nzoia Sugar, as farmers in the region are frustrated and workers are demoralised.
He urged politicians to stop using the situation for political advantage while people’s livelihoods are at stake.
The Governor also asked all stakeholders not to turn the factory into a political battleground, citing that such actions only worsen the situation for those who depend on the mill.
“The revival of Nzoia Sugar requires the collective effort of all stakeholders,” he said.
These remarks came amid the ongoing debate over the future of Nzoia Sugar.
Lusaka emphasised that the issue should no longer be politicised or dragged through the courts, as the leasing process is hurting all stakeholders, including farmers.
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Source : Kenya News Agency
