Among the agenda that were discussed in a closed-door meeting between the President and Luo leaders at the Kisumu State Lodge on Thursday was the resurrection of the falling sugar industry in the region, it has emerged.
The meeting was held on Thursday night and presided over by the visiting President Uhuru Kenyatta, also present was opposition leader Raila Odinga and a section of Luo Nyanza politicians.
According to some of the leaders in attendance, Uhuru proposed the merger of 3 sugar factories; Miwani, Chemelil, and Muhoroni, to make them a single and more profitable entity.
It is reported, the proposal, received direct backing from a section of the present lawmakers, including Onyango K'Oyoo (Muhoroni), Otiende Amollo (Rarieda) and Gideon Ochanda (Bondo).
Confirming the details of the meeting to the Standard on Wednesday, the lawmakers said that the President made it clear that the factories will remain in the hands of the government.
He said that no privatization will occur after intervention from the local leaders.
“Merging these factories and pursuing individuals who ran them down could give farmers a chance,” Ochanda was quoted.
They added that Uhuru proposed a benchmarking trip for the lawmakers to Sudan's Kenana Sugar to witness how the merger operates.
The lawmakers, however, differed in the revelation of the support the proposal achieved in the meeting. Amollo strongly supported it while Onyango of the contradicted.
This comes as a reprieve to area residents, sugarcane stakeholders and farmers who have been calling for the President's intervention in the limping sector.