Deputy President William Ruto has been accused of playing with the Luhya economy, following his recent declaration about the Mumias Sugar Company.
While launching the Wanga Technical Institute in Mumias last week, the DP said that the national government will relinquish its 20 per cent shares in the factory to the county.
"We have agreed as the national government and told the county government that we're in the process of surrendering the shares we hold to them so that together with other county stakeholders they can find a lasting solution," said Ruto.
However, the announcement seems to have angered Lugari MP Ayub Savula, who argued that the DP is playing games, adding that the plan cannot revive the factory and has come very late.
He questioned why Ruto wants the government to hand over the shares without money, yet he has been dishing out money during his various tours across the country.
"When the people of Western cried that the company was ailing, he was busy donating millions to schools for political reasons. How do you give the county shares without money? It’s too late that the company is under receivership," said Savula on Tuesday.
He argued that Ruto should have pushed for a rescue plan as was the case with the Kenya Airways, arguing that the shares would have been useful had they been handed over earlier.
“The county government has been demanding these shares so it could gain access to the board of management to make decisions and start restructuring the miller but the National Treasury declined. Why hand over the shares when they cannot help in its revival?” he added.
He warned area politicians who have been accompanying the DP, noting that they will be shown the door in the 2022 polls.