Governors from sugarcane growing regions hold the position that privatisation and restructuring of sugar millers must be undertaken within the context of the devolved system of government and must respect the role of county governments.
Addressing journalists at Acacia Hotel in Kisumu on Tuesday, Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma said although the Privatisation Act of 2005 was reviewed after the enactment of the new Constitution, it however, still remains inconsistent with the devolved system of governance.
“The Privatisation Act 2005 must comply with the new Constitution so that we can go ahead with the privatisation of the sugar factories,” said Ranguma.
He said the Privatisation Commission has not involved the Transitional Authority and county governments’ representatives.
“The governance structure of the board must include a representative from the relative county government and the Transitional Authority,” he added.
“We are willing to engage further with the commission and the national Treasury on the basis that we must relook at what has been done and correct it to comply with the current constitution,” the Kisumu County boss said.
Migori Governor Zacharia Obado cautioned the Commission against going ahead with it privatisation plan terming it illegal.
“The law is very clear that agriculture has been fully devolved except for policies and research that has been left for the national government,” said Obado.
He added: “They cannot do this without the involvement of county governments. We know farmers’ situations and the sugar factories rely on their input.”
He said the commission should not claim that sugar factories belong to the national government.
“The growing of sugarcane is an agricultural activity clearly indicated in Schedule 4 of the Constitution. For the Privatisation Commission to insist that the factories belong to the national government, we find it as sad line of argument,” he added.