The Managements of State-owned Sugar factories have been accused of poor management and corruption leading to the collapse of the plants.
President William Ruto made the onslaught on the managements while in Migori County on where he is on a three-day development tour of the region.
He said that the illegal acts by the plants’ managements had left thousands of cane farmers languishing in poverty and despair.
Speaking at an interdenominational prayer service held at Kadika Primary School in Suna East Constituency, the head of State questioned where funds received from sale of sugar always disappears to as farmers waits for their dues in vain.
He said it is unrealistic for sugar millers to collect cane from farmers, mill it and sell the produce and when it is time to pay farmers, there is no money.
“How comes there is no money paid to farmers, no salaries for employees, yet money goes in from sugar sale. What happened? The issue is mismanagement,” he questioned.
The Head of State promised radical reforms, including a new leasing framework for sugar mills, aimed at commercializing operations and ensuring timely payment to farmers and employees.
His remarks come amid growing discontent among sugarcane farmers in the western Kenya region, who have long decried delayed payments, deteriorating infrastructure, and the lack of accountability in sugar mill operations.
“We are going to lease the mills to serious investors. Every month, farmers will be paid for their cane, just like tea, coffee, maize, and wheat farmers.” He revealed.
Dr. Ruto assured residents that his government is committed to restoring dignity in the agricultural sector and building an economy that benefits farmers.
“We want to put money in the pockets of the common mwananchi. Farmers deserve bonuses. We are going to fix it,” he said.
Cabinet Secretaries for National Treasury John Mbadi and his Energy counterpart Opiyo Wandayi. also attended the event.
CS Mbadi lauded the inclusion of key road projects in the current financial year’s budget, marking a historic first for the county.
The CS revealed that in this financial year, there will be construction of various roads across the county, terming it as the first time Migori is seeing this level of attention.
‘I have assigned funds which will see the construction of the Kanyawanga–Dede–Rapogi road, the Stella-Gogo road, and the Posta–Maccalder road in the national budget,” said Mbadi.
He also noted the government’s plan to complete stalled roads in Kuria East and West, and pledged more resources to fast-track projects like the Ngege–Mapera road and the construction of a national industrial park in Macalder.
Mbadi further highlighted the recent upgrade of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (Russia Hospital) in Kisumu to a Level 6 facility, a move he said will reduce the burden on Kenyatta and Moi national referral hospitals.
“I signed the Cabinet Memo that made this possible. This year alone, the hospital will receive Sh3.2 billion from the national government. This is a triple of what it used to get from the county government of Kisumu,” he said.
Similarly, Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi, announced major upgrades in the region’s power infrastructure, citing the expansion of the Gogo Hydro Power Plant in Uriri Constituency.
“The Gogo plant, which has been stuck at 2MW since independence, is now being expanded to 8.6MW,” he said. “We are also building a new line from Awendo to Isebania and a modern substation in Kuria.”
He further disclosed that the ministry would launch a multi-billion-shilling rural electrification programme starting in Awendo, set to benefit the entire Migori County under the Last Mile Connectivity initiative.
The interdenominational prayer service was attended by leaders from Migori County headed by Governor Dr. Ochillo Ayacko, who rallied his support for the government and President Ruto.
Ayacko revealed that presidential visit will bring more development to the county and urged other leaders to put aside political difference and work for the electorates.
By George Agimba and Polycarp Ochieng
