Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o has urged the Kibos Sugar company, which operates from the county, to stay put, amid plans to leave and relocate to Rwanda.
In a statement, the governor said Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries Limited has been playing a major role in the Kisumu economy, thanks to the job opportunities it has created.
He termed the factory the biggest investment in the entire Lake region, whose exit will render jobless more than 1,500 Kenyans, currently depending on it for livelihood.
"We cannot be talking about creating economic zones when factories are moving out. Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries Limited ( KSAIL )is the biggest investment in the entire lake region, and must not be allowed to go to drains," Nyong'o said.
"As a county we risk losing over 500 job opportunities should the refinery, a $ 20 million plant move to another country as it has threatened to for it has not being functional for the last four years," he added.
He spoke after the company's management revealed that it is eyeing Rwanda as its next destination, with the plan being to relocate part of its plant in Kisumu over there.
An exit of Kibos will further worsen the situation in Kisumu county, where majority of major sugar millers have either closed down or are struggling to keep up.
Miwani Sugar had since closed down, with Chemelil and Muhoroni, all in Muhoroni sub-county, limping.