Sugarcane plantation workers in Western Kenya have termed as regrettable the deal President Uhuru Kenyatta entered with Ugandan government to import sugar into the country.
Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation Workers secretary general, Francis Wangara said the head of state ought to have consulted widely with the relevant stakeholders in the sugar sector to see if the deal if viable.
Wangara said Uganda has got no capacity even to satisfy its market and wondered where they will get sugar for import to Kenya.
“Uganda has only three sugar factories, they are not able to offer enough sugar for Ugandans, I wonder how they will import to Kenya,” he asked.
He said the deal will open loopholes for cheap sugar from developed countries gaining entry into Kenya in the pretext of sugar from Uganda.
Addressing a press conference in Kisumu at his office on Wednesday at Awuori House, Wangara said the country will be affected if the deal goes through.
He urged the President to reverse the deal and consult to see the viability of the deal.
“The country will suffer should this deal be implemented, I want to appeal to the president to put it on hold and consult,” he said.
He concurred that the country has a sugar deficit but allowing cheap sugar will paralyze the sugar industries.
He threatened that they will move to court to challenge the deal if it is not reversed for further consultation.