President William Ruto’s allies have urged the government to act firmly on attempts to sneak illegal sugar imports into the country.
They said continued importation of contraband sugar into the country was hurting local investors and farmers alike.
Speaking during an empowerment event at Eshiandukusi Senior School in Lurambi constituency, the leaders, led by National Assembly speaker Moses Wetang’ula, said sugarcane farming is a critical sector that supports livelihoods of more than five million farmers in the lake region.
Wetang’ula said that illegal sugar imports were eroding the progress made by the Kenya Kwanza administration in reviving sugar factories that were struggling or collapsed all together.
“We must continue fighting the sugar barons sneaking cheap sugar into the country through ‘panya’ roots to protect the sugar sector, which is the main economic stay for the region,” he said.
“This is destroying the sugar market, thus denying cane farmers benefits from their investments. We’re going to work together as Parliament to ensure these sugar cartels are dismantled and those behind them arrested and charged in court.”
President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet said that sugar cartels have now changed from using the Port of Mombasa after they were discovered and are now attempting to use Somalia border.
“We want those involved arrested and charged and the sugar burnt,” he said.
Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe said that sugar cartels had attempted to sneak 32,000 tonnes of contraband sugar from Brazil through the Port of Mombasa.
“When we discovered and made noise, they rerouted the ship to the port of Belbera on the Somalia coast,” he said.
“We have intelligence that the ship is in the high seas headed to the Port of Babera where they plan to repackage the sugar into Mumias sugar bags and bring it in through Mandera border.
“We’re appealing to the Kenya Sugar Board and the Kenya Revenue Authority to ensure the sugar doesn’t enter the country.”
Senate Majority leader and Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot said sugarcane farmers were already benefiting from the reforms initiated in the sugar sector by the President and disruption by sugar cartels must be stopped.
He said reforms of the sector include writing off debts owed by millers to supplier and enactment of the Sugar Act that had been repealed.
Other leaders who attended the event included host MP Titus Khamala, Innocent Mugabe (Likuyani), Tindi Mwale (Butere), Mary Emase (Teso South), Geoffrey Odanga (Funyula), Lilian Siyoyi (Woman MP Trans-Nzoia), Beatrice Adagala (Woman MP Vihiga) and UDA national vice chairman Kelvin Lunani.
Adagala said that she would push the matter to be investigated by the National Assembly Committee on Trade where she is a member to establish those behind the illegal imports.
The leaders also criticised a section of the opposition for propagating tribalism and politics of hatred for selfish political gains at the expense of peace and unity.
Farouk said that time for playing on people’s emotions to incite them against each other are long gone.
Cheruiyot said the 2027 general election will be a referendum between those who believe in equalising all Kenyans and those who only believe that a section of the country deserves development.
“We are waiting for the election day the same way they say they are waiting for the day so we can tell each other the truth.
“Tribalism must end in Kenya. We want the notion that some Kenyans are superior than others must end,” he said.
Wetang’ula said that the 2027 general election will be used by the Luhya community to lay the foundation to ascend to power in 2032.
“We should not wait to be organised because President Ruto is ready to return the favour to the Luhya community when he leaves office,” he said.
Khamala said Ruto was the only President who has equalised development across Kenya, urging Kenyans to shun tribalism.
“It’s time Kenyan leaders realised that Kenya is bigger than a tribe and push for unity instead,” he said.
