Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town

RONGO District Commissioner Arthur Osiya yesterday spent the best part of the afternoon in a crisis talks with the contracted and non-contracted sugar cane farmers within the Awendo sugar growing zones.

The meeting, which was held in Awendo town was part of the concerted effort by the Provincial Administration to resolve dispute between the farmers, cane cutters and other local stake holders, which has paralyzed the operations of SONYSUGAR company.

It was held on the fourth days of a stand off between the cane farmers, cutters and civic leaders in the region, which has paralyzed the operations of the Awendo based facility for the last four days.

Si fat the striking cane cutters are suspected to have been responsible for the destruction of the company property, which has seen close to 20 hectares of mature and immature cane torched by unknown arsonists . The strike by cane cutters has also drastically hampered the operations at the facility and grossly interfered with the normal cane delivery at the factory.

THE D.C’s meeting with farmers and cane cutter came in the wake of an impromptu meeting of the boards of directors of SONYSUGAR board of directors, which was called specifically to deliberate on various issues affecting the operations of the SONYSUGAR company, which is a wholly government owned facility.

The D.C. made passionate appeal to the resident of Awendo cane farming zone to protect the property of the SONYSUGAR Company saying that the firm was playing pivotal role in the economy of the Southern Nyanza region being the only single largest manufacturing industry.

The D.C reminded the residents of the area of the importance of keeping peace, law and order while the government is looking into their grievances. He promised that an important announcement would be made soon in connection to the farmers demand for high prices for their row cane.

But the seemingly enraged farmers told the D.C on his face that they were not comfortable with the SONYSUGAR Managing Director Paul O Odolla and wanted him fired.

While the meeting was going on some voice from the crowd were heard shouting that the recent renewal of the MD’s contract was done in a questionable manner. This confirms the rumors making the round within Awendo and its environs that it was done through the back door and that a discredited former civic leaders was used as conduit and hirelings brokering the deal through an influential political family which prevailed upon the Ministry to have the non-performing manager’s working contract renewed to the chagrins of the cane farmers and workers alike.

The lasted development came about following the sugar cane farmers pressing demand that the row cane price be increased from the current price of Kshs 2885 to Kshs 3185 per ton of row cane delivered to the facility. The farmers want the payment in arrears back-dated to July 2009 when the National Pricing Committee of the Kenya Sugar Board approved the increment. Other Millers had already adjusted to the new prices and paid out money in arrears to the cane growers except SONYDSUGAR.

During the impromptu security Baraza by the D.C there were no senior managers from the SONYSUGAR in attendance, through there were eight civic leaders from the Councils within the Awendo environs.

A prominent farmer from Rapogi zone Mr John Boby Awiti Otange who is also a prominent businessman in Nairobi commented that the time of employing top managers in public companies through godfathers are long gone with the arrival of the new constitution dispensation.

He said the SONYSUGAR company managers must be prepared to serve the interest of the sugar cane farmers above all because the farmers are their employers. Those who could not cooperate with the farmers must pack and go because there is no more room for employment through godfathers.

Some of the farmers interviewed said they would not hesitate to go public and expose the names of people involved in underhanded and corrupt deals, which are likely to cause sufferings to the poor cane farmers

SONYSUGAR has contracted close to 27,000 within the six administrative districts of Rongo, Homa-Bay,Uriri, Gucha, Trans-Mara, Migori and Kuria. There are also equal number of non-contracted farmers within the region who are also benefiting from the company.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com