THE MUHORONI CONSTITUENCY IS ONE OF THE RICHEST REGIONS IN LUO-NYANZA BUT RAMPANT CORRUPTION AND MISMANAGEMENT OF SUGAR MILLS HAS MADE THE AREA AND CANE FARMERS ECONOMICALLY POOR.
The Profile of Muhoroni .Constituency by Leo Odera Omolo.
MUHOIRONI is one of the areas in Luo-Nyanza, which is relatively rich and economically advanced due to its abundant sugarcane cash crops.
The area, however, is reeling in abject poverty due to rampant corruption by top managers of the sugar companies, not paying in time for sugarcane delivered by farmers to the factories for processing, cheating in weighbridges, and many other ills.
Bordering seven other parliamentary constituencies, namely Kisumu Town East in the West, Aldai in the northwest, Tinderet in the East, Kipkellion in the Northeast, Ainamoi in the South, Nyando in the Southwest, Muhorobi is a semi-cosmopolitan rural farming constituency, covering former white settler region in the Rift Valley and Nyanza Provinces, namely Songhor, Miwani, Kibos, Chemelil, Koru and Fort-Tennan along the Nakuru -Kisumu railway line.
The inhabitants of this agriculturally rich constituency are a mixture of people from different ethnic groups, though the Luo are arguably the majority.
There are several rural Luo locations within the constituency, apart from the settlement schemes, which were opened soon after the departure of White Settlers, soon after independence in 1963.
Despite the fact that the new settlement areas are closer to the rural Kano plains locations, the scheme attracted new settlers from all over Rural Luo Locations as far afield as Ugenya, Gem, Alego, Sakwa, Seme, Uyoma, Kasipul-Kabondo, Kajulu, Kisumo and other rural locations.
There were also new settlers from other communities like the Kalenjin, most of whom were formerly squatters in the white settlers farms, Abagusii, Abaluhyia and Kikuyu. The number of non-Luo settlers within the scheme areas has since dwindled, following the post-election violence of 2008.
The scheme had attracted new settlers from all over Luo-Nyanza, with the Jo-Nyakach having the lion’s share, followed by those from Ugenya, Gem ,Alego, Seme, Sakwa, Uyoma, Kisumo, Kasipuyl-Kabondo and Karachuonyo locations .
Apart from covering Kibos and Miwani locations, the constituency also extended its boundaries into rural Kano Plains locations like South East and part of the northeast. That is why the majority of the registered voters are members of the larger jo-Kano sub-clans. This advantage has given the people of Kano sub-clan the majority in voting pattern, and if they can sustain it for long, then members of other communities would always stand no chance of clinching the Muhoroni seat.
Apart from producing most of the sugar cane crops in the region, Muhoroni has good rainfall for the production of other cash crops like maize, coffee, tea, bananas, citrus fruits, vegetables and it is also good for cattle rearing. But half of the farmers have switched to keeping the more economically important grade cattle, the majority, those living in the rural locations still prefer the zebu native cattle.
The constituency has had only three MPs since its creation, when it was sliced out of the old Nyando constituency in the late 1990s. Its first MP was Justus Aloo Ogeka (1992-1997}. He was elected on the Ford-Kenya ticket in the first multi-party elections.
Politically Muhoroni constituency is an ODM stronghold. The incumbent MP, Prof. Ayiecho Olueny, although he has performed dismally, he is known to sing to the tone of Raila Odinga, the Prime Minister, each time he opens his mouth at any public gathering, be it a funeral place or a public rally.
The man who has always given Prof. Olueny a run for his money is the Nairobi based businessman, Mr. James Onyango Koyoo. In 1992, Koyoo won in the preliminary nomination for Ford-Kenya, but was deliberately denied the party ticket by the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, after beating Ogeka and other aspirants, on suspicion that he had connection with KANU bigwigs.
He again beat Prof. Ayiecho Olueny and others in 1997, but once again was denied the LDP party ticket, this time around by Raila Odinga. Raila instead supported his (Raila’s) cousin, Dr. William Odongo Omamo, who eventually won the election and served as the MP for the area between 1997 and 2002.
Koyoo tried again in 2002, but this time he performed poorly on a KANU ticket, due to the euphoria of Narc that swept KANU out of power. He did not contest in 2007. But a former banker, Omulo Okal won the ODM primary nomination, but instead Prof. Ayiecho Olueny was declared the winner, amid protests by the voters, and issued with the party clearance certificate.
As I have stated before in this article, Muhoroni constituency is the richest among the rural constituencies located in Luo-Nyanza, but its residents are reeling in poverty due to mismanagement, embezzlement, misappropriation and rampant corruption within the sugar companies. This has led to two of the factories having gone burst.
They are Miwani and Muhoroni, which were placed under what the then Minister for Agriculture, Chris M Obure described as protective receivership, and that the factories were to be handed back to their former managers, Muhoroni after 90 days, while Miwani was do be audited and its finances realigned within 120 days.
Muhoroni factory was re-opened soon, but for Miwani, it has been 12 years, and there are no signs of Miwani re-opening within the foreseeable future. What is known is that the very cartel of Asian business tycoons who had run it down, later got embroiled, scrambling for its 10,000 nucleus estate farm under suspicious circumstances.
And what hurts the small sugarcane farmers most, and hitting them below the belt, is the allegations and rumours that their sweat, in the name of harvested sugarcane, is being stolen in thousands of tons, through the faulty weighbridges in some of the factories.
It seems that the Ministry of Trade’s Weight and Measurements Department, has abdicated its responsibility of carrying out regular checks on weighing machines in order to ascertain whether the public are being cheated through the faulty weighing machines. It is believed sugarcane farmers are the worst hit. This well orchestrated siphoning of the poor farmer’s produce is making them lose millions of shillings through the cheatings at the weighbridges in the factories, when they deliver their cane for processing.
Reports reaching us say, one particular factory in the area has perfected the art of cheating farmers of their millions of shillings, through deliberately adjusted weighbridge results. To confirm this, one disappointed farmer, who had delivered close to ten tons of raw cane to this particular factory did not believes his eyes, when it weighed only six and a half tons. The farmer became stubborn and later drove his tractor to another factory and instead of weighing only six and half tons, this time around, the same tractor load of sugarcane weighed nine and half tons. Had he delivered it to the first factory, he would have lost close to Kshs 10,000 in one single delivery.
There are also unrealistic deductions in transportation costs, harvesting labor costs and many other hurdles facing sugar cane farmers, at the expense of a few wealthy people. There are so many unrealistic deals committed by top factory managers, such as hiring security personnel from private security providing firms at an inflated prices per each guards, which attracts kick-backs.
In Miwani and Chemelil areas, there are also reported theft of cane in the field by a wealthy transporter who owns fleets of tractors, and is involved in contracted transportation of cane from the fields to the factories.
With all these happening, the cane farmer is only getting peanuts out of his or her hard sweat, and is reduced to a pauper. Even the little money from the cane crop, he/she is also forced to wait for even more than six months before getting paid.
An attempt was made by the government, which own both Miwani and Muhoroni sugar companies, to have them privatized. But the plan was thwarted by wealthy Asians with vested interest. The cartel moved to court deliberately to frustrate the plan, and engaged the government in endless legal tussles through courts.
The area MP, Prof. Ayiecho is being accused of having been compromised and is also alleged to be collaborating well with the graft oriented sugar factory managers. The graft is so rampant, even with what is called “Helicopter Harvesting” system, whereas the harvesting team jump from one firm to the other, leaving more mature cane, whose owners can not afford “Kick-Backs”, to rot in the field for many months. It is affecting farmers in both settlement schemes and also in rural Kano locations.
On many occasions, members of the Kenya Anti Corruption unit found nothing tangible to warrant any prosecution being instituted against anybody, but soon after their departures, internal and external auditors usually came out with claims of millions of shilling missing or improperly accounted for. And the status and plight of the suffering small scale sugarcane farmer remains unchanged.
In the year 2012, Prof. Ayiecho appear to be heading for trouble in his re-election, and he will have to pay for his lackluster performance.
Muhoroni could be the heartbeat of Luo Nyanza’s massive economic development, if sugar companies can be privatized and properly managed, with zero tolerance for thieving managers and other corrupt individuals.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
Imust say that this is a good editorial as pertains issues of development in the muhoroni constituency.I am a resident there based in TAMU location.I am a kenyatta university student.that aside,it is very disheartening for me as NEEDY student to be reluctantly denied C.D.F bursary kitty.I have tried in vain to grt it ever since i got to this campus some two years ago but the excuse i am being given is that the kitty is not ment for university students and yet other university students from other constituencies are benefitting from the same.i am requesting for help because i have been suffering.please,whoever is responsible for availing these funds for us,we are in dire need of them.pllllleeezz!!!!!
surely Mr Leo, even if a bush man from the Khoisan of Botswana is brought and you tell him that MR Ayiecho is the mp he wiil blame those who elected him.That man is mad
This cool,i encourage you to collect more information on this constituency,things like the names of those awarded bursaries(u can preview Nyakach cont’website)benchmark,ok am a member staying in God Abuoro and an Engineering student in JKUAT,we youths plan to restructure and revolutionalise the way people think in that area especially those old Wazzes who have clinged on to everything…and not engaging the young.I must say they are Wise but not current on Technology &education on ways of improving lives….if a few of them could come and Benchmark the way youths from Juja/THIKA are more enterprising,engaging investing in Building Quality Houses from the small earnings(within no time they are rich from the monthly rents)…LETS CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK 4 THE BETTER,WE CANT PLANT SUGARCANE FOREVER USE THE INTERNET TO EXPLORE OTHER VENTURES IN AGRICULTURE IN THAT SAME BLACK SOIL…OTHERWISE GOOD WORK ADMIN(hope we can work together to promote this page,coz am an influential youth when it comes to internet mobilisation)
Vote Barry for Muhoroni constituency 2012, this is a wise young man , briliant with ideas to support development in Muhoroni. Last time he was in Tamu, Koru and Koguta, he supported a number of needy youths, students and women groups, i bet if you have school fee issues, you need to inform him. He is an allumni of Kenyatta University, so he’ll sort you out.
Barry rocks the youths in muhoroni, he’s young and liked by both youths and women, he’s the one that gives Ayiecho sleepless nights.
Vote Barry for muhoroni constituency 2012 if you want to change your future!!
Its high time the people of Muhoroni should stop dancing to the same old music by electing leaders who do not perform their responsibilities to the best of the public interest I mean no bursaries, no adequate development, no improvement on the already existing utilities…name them all.Its time to pave way for the youths in Muhoroni leadership and this will only be possible if the youths come together in a united spirit to make one of their own a leader that Muhoroni needs.I am a Kenyatta university student an electorate of Muhoroni constituency and Nyangoma ward and wuold never want to describe prof.Olweny as my member of parliament despite being well read he works in the most unlike a leader manner.Just an advice to my good friends in Muhoroni, let us be sober and elect the best leader to the national assembly come 2012.
Youths let us come out 2012 and elect wisely
I am a resident of Muhoroni constituency at Multimedia University. Its a pity that Muhoroni, despite the endowment with all the resources is still where it is. I join Robert above in calling for sobriety among the electorate in Muhoroni so that we can eliminate these propagators of the status quo. its time we stood up as the youth of Muhoroni and said enough is enough and usher in a new era.
Muhoroni as a settlement scheme is an open area for all individuals to settle at. Most luos who work in the big towns in Kenya and have well paid jobs have plots in Muhoroni, but what is painful is that they don’t invest their. Look at Muhoroni 10 years ago, I think it was better off compared to how it is now….Whats really happening, talk of the town council, general cleanliness of the town, structures constructed in the town center. it is pathetic and we really need to do something.
The current receiver manager of Muhoroni Sugar Company is trying hard and now the company is making progressive profit.
I have traveled all places in this republic and i am always left wondering why Muhoroni is the way it is,It is a big shame that some schools in the constituency still have semi-permanent buildings with pupils not having Desk.I am calling upon anybody who can please tell me any single CDF in the constituency.We the people of Muhoroni need to think twice and elect a man or woman who will steer development in the Constituency.What is Hon.Ayiecho doing???? We are to be blamed.
My dear brothers,sisters,mothers and fathers as well as our grand parents,lets say NO to imposed politicians in this region and lets elect our leaders basing on what they can do.What were the achievements of Omamo in the region????Let Odingaism work in Bondo but not in Muhoroni.Let us not elect party but individuals.Let us take example with Central Province where the head of state is the leader of PNU but most MPS in the region were not elected on PNU but other parties.
ooh God wat a home for people living in towns and come to the scheme for mature celebration this time we are coming in style dear people VOTE OCHOLA OGADA 4 SENATOR he is a man of integrity,wisdom,courage,maendeleo,optimistic,critical in decision making i invite you all for the support above all remember uru baba RAILA AMOLLO ODINGA ( ODM )
brothers in muhoroni why are we sleeping everyday? pple should wake up, vote for youths, old people should rest at home.look at chemelil company full of nepotism’s,tribalism name it ,no jobs for youths .vote for barry
It’s true Muhoroni is very productive and all this is not helping us the people of muhoroni. I call upon the farmers in this region to strengthen their cooperative societies as this is the only way they can raise above these maraudy factories
I believe in youth leadership in Muhoroni let a youth come out and sell his/her policies to the electorates of Muhoroni this shuold be done in all institutions of higher learning because this is where a good number of youths are…I am a student at Kenyatta university and i believe we are a good number over here
I still look and wonder…and I now know we really need a messiah…look at Dhiwa constituency,they now have a new sugar farm out of the late Ojode’s hard work and determination for his constituents,but just reviving Miwani sugar factory in Muhoroni remains a dream when youths are hustling with life because of lack of jobs!its a pity, lets be sober people!vote and vote wisely come next elections
The only politician who has brought tangible development in Muhoroni is JAMES ONYANGO KOYOO. Politicians like prof. Ayiecho has tried to taint his reputation, by linking him to unfound allegations. Pple in Muhoroni have decided. They are electing KOYOO and wil stick with him to the better. We are tired of baseless allegations, we want achievers.
Hi people of muhoroni am a university student from muhoroni. I applied for bursary but all in vein. If any CDF official or any other responsible person has seen this please intervene and notify. Thanks in advance. Quote: Lets all team up this time to vote visionable leaders . Okumu : Egerton University MBchB 2012
Its high time people from muhoroni should think twice before electing thier leaders.
Am from God Abuoro and during rainny seasons, the roads are pathetic. improvement in transport sector should be improved by all means. so i urge voters to vote in those who will perform in transport sector so that other development can also be brought to the contituency.
This is brilliant Mr. Leo! At least young Muhoroni residents like me have got the opportunity to understand Muhoroni better. I’ve keenly gone though this work and I have this to say: Raila is to blame for the abject poverty in every household not only in Muhoroni but in the entire Luo community. He makes political decisions for us and commands them rather than upholding true leadership. Check this out once more: His dad/he denied Koyoo his win for Ogeka in 1992, Koyoo again denied for Omamo in 1997, Okal, now a different aspirant denied for Ayiecho 2002, Ayiecho forcefully fixed in in 2007, Ogoda denied his catch for Nyong’o in 2013….and more are yet to happen as long as Raila lives. This article has changed me for good!! Cheers for this Mr.
a time will come and i see it near at the corner for change and transformation.it shouldn’t be a blame game yet we know where the problem lies.muhoroni belongs to us so we are the people to change it.president Obama or hon.Raila will not come and help us change it.change starts from us the people of Muhoroni.in your own capacity you can change muhoroni constituency.
Dear fellow residents of Muhoroni, we are only an ATTITUDE away from success. The right THOUGHT plus the right PEOPLE in the right ENVIRONMENT at the right TIME for the right REASON will give us the right RESULT. Leadership is action not position. Am a 21yrs old and a student at Egerton, i have stayed in Muhoroni for almost a fifth of a century and i can say without any fear that Muhoroni has NEVER been led by a leader apart from those people i call ‘big-headed bustard individuals who cheat themselves that they were born to lead’ We have to overcome the past, change our own situations, fight new obstacles and make better decisions. Pretense of action is worse than inaction. Lets start now bearing in mind that the greatest failure is the fear to begin. And by the way, why do we have to keep electing those old people everyday? They should have led yesterday or the day before. Why did they choose today? Fellow youths where are you? The likes of ROBERT OUKO OGUTU and OKUMU ANDREW who have commented up there, we can start this journey.. can’t we? Talk to me at grgmagero@gmail.com . This is a journey we are starting and we are not interested into seeing Canaan, we must just reach Canaan.
Muhoroni is downgraded just because of some cheap politics and hafty politcians who have got most self interest in public properties. an example is an mp who served for two terms and no tangeble development he can even account for. n with all his ignorrance he is then nothing’ compered to a mere voter coz he is livin in constiques life nkt Muhoroni this time we dont want this to happen…