BY JEFF OTIENO
A war of words in Kenya Sugar Board has gone a notch higher with key stake holders in the sector threatening to go to court soon to block the impending purchase of fertilizer worth Ksh.1billion.
A group of farmers led by Tom Otieno Onyango are arguing that the move by Kenya Sugar Board is illegal and tantamount to fraud ever witnessed in the history of the sector.
The over 10 farmers representatives drawn from various zones among them Nyando and Homa-Bay Districts described the move as blatant theft and urged President Mwai Kibaki to promptly intervene to salvage the farmers from the shackles of the cartel.
The group recalled with rage how Rosemary Mkok who was in the year 2000 Company Secretary but currently the Chief Executive bought huge tones of fertilizer and had nowhere to take them because they had no storage facilities thus ended up dumping them.
“We will not entertain old tricks to defraud the farmers under the pretext of reforms,” the group thundered.
Early this week the CEO Rosemary Mkok in a section of the press singled out sugar millers to be the greatest impediments to reforms in the sector, a claim which the umbrella body (KESMA) Kenya Sugar Manufacturers Association through its Chairman Evans Kidero dismissed as ‘blatant lie’.
Speaking to this journalist on telephone Dr. Evans Kedero who is also the Managing Director of Mumias Sugar company described Mkok’s assertions as unfortunate and misleading.
“As far as I’m concerned buying of fertilizer isn’t the mandate or priority of the board” Kidero said.
“We expect the players in the sector to be more serious in tackling the envisaged reformes to make the fraternity more vibrant and competitive instead of viewing things parochially and personalizing issues,” he continued.
“Nzoia Sugar Company have got canes of between 48 – 60 months while Sony Sugar shoulders canes of about 60 months yet cane should take about 18 months normally where are we heading to sincerely,” he quipped.
Since she took over the mantle of leadership, Mkok has had tensed and moisty ties with some of her Directors who accuse her to be operating in isolation and with high handedness without consulting other stake holders.
They’re further alleging that Mkok seems to be having personal scores to settle with a clique of Directors who she feels were behind the ouster of her husband as the receiver Manager of the financially crippled Muhoroni sugar Company a couple of years ago.
The Directors are further alleging that Mkok’s entrenched enmity is due to the fact that they have refused to back her schemes in abid to reinstate her husband back to Muhoroni Sugar Company as the receiver Manager.
END
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Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 05:41:09 -0700 (PDT)
From: JEFF
Subject: ACCUSATIONS AND COUNTER ACCUSATIONS MAROONS KENYA SUGAR BOARD OVER FERTILIZER.