From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 11:55 PM
Reports Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City.
SUGAR cane farmers in Chepsweta area of South Nandi district, in Kano Plains and cane growing areas around Miwani, have complained bitterly about their outstanding arrears, some which are dating back to the year 1992.
Miwani Sugar Mills was placed under the protective official receivership by the then Minister for Agriculture, Chris M. Obure, but the company went burst with millions of unpaid bi;;s for cane delivered by the farmers and crushed.
The official s receivers were supposed to be working out the modalities by which the farmers could have been paid out their outstanding dues, for cane crops they had delivered to the facility, before it was placed under the receivership, together with the nearby Muhoroni sugar company. But close to fifteen years down the line, the farmer have yet to received even one cent for the payment arrears.
The farmer have now appealed to the government to look into the matter critically and make sure they are paid their dues. They have appealed to the Minister for Agriculture William Ruto to effect their payment.
One such farmer, who incurred the heaviest loses is Mzee Benjamin Kipruto Busienei, who claimed he had lost colossal amount of money to the tune of Kshs 1,260,516,000. Mze Busienei told this writer that many cane farmers have run bankrupt and yet a firm previously owned by the government had not paid out the poor cane farmers in Miwani and its environs.
When both Miwani and Muhoroni Sugar companies were placed under the protective official receivership, the farmers were assured that they would receive their payment in due course.
The government took over the running and management of the Miwani Sugar Mills and appointed a Mr. Salim Kado as its managing Director. And, the firm which was then wholly-owned by the government become a government parastatal body.
ENDS
Leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
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Subject: SUGAR CANE FARMERS IN CHEPSWETA AND KANO PLAINS HAVE FAULTED THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT PAYING FOR THE CANE THEY SUPPLIED TO MIWANI WAY BACK IN 1992