Business News By Leo Odera Omolo.

RIDOKAM, a community based organization, which is serving the exclusive economic and business interests of the residents of Kano Plains, in Nyando district has registered a new firm whose directors are the entrepreneurs from the locality.

The company, which has a limited liability is called Noo Development Agency Limited{Inda Ltd}.The new firm, however, will open its shares to all interested parties and individual, even those from outside the Kano Plains.

The aims and objectives of the newly formed commercial company is to acquire the majority shares in all the six sugar manufacturing factories, located in the Nyanza Sugarbelt within Nyando district. “This is a step forward to empower the local community economically, said a statement released by its chairman Mzee Walter Kitoto Adell”

Commonly known as Riwruok Dongo Kano Manyien {RIDOKA},the new company is aiming at mobilizing its members to raise money for the purpose of buying shares in the existing sugar company or for outright purchase of the same facilities.

The sugar factories at stake include Kibos, Miwani, Chemelil,and Muhoroni. Also targeted for acquisition is the nearby Agrochemical Company. The group also wanted to control the Ahero and West Kano Rice pilot schemes as parts of its ambition to empower the locals economically.

Inda Ltd, has its directors under the chairmanship of MZEE Walter Kitoto Adel, the company secretary is Samuel Anyango. Other interim directors include Ridoka m Secretary James Onyango, Stephen Ogawa.

Other members of its board Gilbert Onunga, Rdokam’s Treasurer, Joshua Kidiga, Henry Ngeso Nyawina.

The group said in a hastl called press conference held at the Kisumu Ken yatta Sports ground that the residents of Kano plains have never benefited .from these sugar factories, though, all are situated within their ancestral land./”Our people have yet to reap the fruits of these factories although all are allocated exclusively on our ancestral land. Our people have never secured important jobs in these industries to to-date,” he said.

He went on, “Kano people are therefore wished to remind the government that they are vehemently opposed to the controversial sales of the 10,000 acres nucleus estate farm of Miwani Sugar Mills in piecemeal. But if the government want to off-load its share in the company, then the Kano people the indigenous owner of the land on which the factory stand should be given priority and consideration first before anyone elses.

Mzee Adell disclosed that the wishes of the Kano people in regards to the changfe of guards in the key sugar manufacturing industries located within the Nyanza sugarbelt has already been communicated to the relevant Ministries of Trade, Industries ,Agriculture and the Provincial Administration in the region..

“We are also demanding that the land leases for most of the sugar factories, which is ninety nine years, particularly that of Miwani Sugar Company, which was issued in 1906 has expired. If the government cannot revive Miwani, then the land should revert to its original owners. It was taken away from us by the colonialist on the understanding that the sugar industry was meant for the creation of employment and other benefits.But Miwani land has remained fallow and uncultivated for close to ten year now ever since the firm was placed under the official receivership.

“Our people are demanding that they be given back their land if there is no tangiblke development taking place in the area,”he said.

At the same time Mr. Adell advised local politicians, the Muhoroni Mp included to desist from antagonistic activities against the new team of management at the Chemelil Sugar Company. WE want these people to be left alone, and out of reach for politicians, so that the new management could turn the facility around to profitability instead of perennial loss making ,” he said.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

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Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:57:57 -0800 [05:57:57 AM CST]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: LOCAL LEADERS WARNED TO KEEP OFF THE OPARATIONS OF CHEMELIL SUGAR COMPANY AND ITS NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM.