By Leo Odera Omolo
TROUBLE is brewing at the Awendo based South Nyanza Sugar Company with cane farmers reportedly up in arms against what they termed as “gross interference in the smooth operations in the government owned sugar company .by politicians
Discontent is simmering while tension is building up within Awendo Town and its environs following rumours and allegations that a Member of Parliament from the area is currently involved in clandestine moves to have the highly performing chairman of the company’s board of directors, Mr. Herbert Ojuwang’ removed.
Those privy to information and other sources says Dalmas Otieno the Minister for Public Services who is also the MP for Rongo is hell bent to have the highly productive chairman replaced with one of his cronies a Mr. Charles Ogalo from his home turf of Kamagambo location.
The allegation bout interference in the activitiesand businesses of Sugar company if proven could bring the MP directlyto a loggerhead with his constituents who depends entirely on the sugar manufacturig company for their upkeep and welfare.
The financially ailing sugar manufacturing firm, the only of its kind in greater Southern Nyanza region has yet to pay the cane farmers for the raw cane they delivered to the factory in April 2008..Cane growers in its zones are crying fault, claiming they will not be able to send their children back to schools when the new term open this week..
Sonysugar has just resumed its operations a week ago after the month long stoppage during which the factory under went its annual maintenance .
What has fuelled the latest acrimony is the unconfirmed rumours and allegations that cabinet Minister Dalmas Otieno is meddling in the smooth operations of the company.
These allegation are backed up by other rumours that the Agriculture PS Dr. Kiome had written a letter to the Head of Civil Service Ambassador Francis Muthaura requesting that Hebert Ojwang’ be removed as the chairman of the board of directors of SonySugar and that the Minister is fronting for his relative to be appointed the new chairman of the board.
Farmers in Awendo says they have full confidence in the current board of directors and its chairman, whom they have credited for having turned the hitherto financially strapped sugar company into a viable and vibrant business outlet for the government and wanted him to be given a chance to continue doing the good job
The Minister for Agriculture Willaim Ruto is the appointing authority. .He is said to be reluctant to succumb to clandestine manoeuvres to have Hebert Ojwang’ ousted as the board chairman, and does not entertain pressures from his cabinet colleague.
The sugar cane farmers, have appealed to Dalmas Otieno to steer clear and de-link himself from the operations of SonySugar in order to allow its competent board of directors and technocrat management team to perform their duties without hindrance from any quarters.
Ojwang’ a shroud business man and the most eloquent personality is the darling of the sugar cane growers in the region and such rumours if entertained could have serious repercussion within the Awendo zone.
SonySugar has contracted close to 27,000 out growers cane farmers in six administrative distriocts of Rongo, Migori, Kuria, Trans-Mara, Homa-Bay and Gucha .At the same time it serving almost equal numbers of none-contracted cane farmers scattered all its zones.
Insiders Dalmas Otieno could not be reached immediately for his comment. His mobile phone rang, but nobody was picking up the call, Close political associates of the Minister says he does not pick up phone call ever since he was appointed to the cabinet. He has remained elusive and inaccessible even to his former election campaign aides.
Insiders says Minister Otieno has no love lost for Ojuwang’ and that the two differed during the reign of the former powerful Permanent Secretary in the Office Of the President, the late Hezekiah N. Oyugi who was in charge of Provincial Administration and Internal Security and the old differences are likely to spill over with negative impact on the operations of SonySugar.
Politically Minister Otieno for many years was aligned to KANU and had no love lost for the Prime Minister Raila Odinga something which had provoked sharp protest from ODM loyalists in South Nyanza when he was forgiven by Raila who appointed him to the cabinet, even leaving out his staunchest supporters like Ndhiwa MP Joshua Orwa Ojode who is believed by many to have been destined for Ministerial appointment. A good number of ODM supporters in the region and even inside his own Rongo constituency are known not to be comfortable with him to date owing to his past utterances against the Odinga family..
A prominent sugar cane farmer in Awendo who wished to remain anonymous told this writer that South Nyanza Sugar company must not be used as the battle ground for settling old score between the Minister and his political detractors. The farmer advised the Minister steer clear of the operations of the sugar company and to mind his business of representing farmers interests ..He has been told to tread carefully, especially when handling Sony Sugar issues.
The alleged effort by Minister Otieno to have the Sony Sugar chairman removed is said to have caused stirs within the ODM.. Ojwang’ hails from Kasipul-Kabondo constituency where the party had received the largest votes during last year’s general elections. He is a former PA to Raila Odinga and what perhaps not known to Dalmas Otieno is that the Sony Sugar Board chairman is having good rapport with the Odinga family. He is a close friend of the Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo and has maintained warm relations with Prime