South Nyanza (SONY) sugar company Managing Director Bernard Otieno was on Tuesday sent on compulsory leave over allegations of embezzlement of company funds.

Do you have a lead on a newsworthy story? Share news tips with us here at Hivisasa!

The company board said that the move was taken following protests linking the latter to alleged misappropriation of money.

This is after the board received a complaint letter on the same from the Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers (KUSPAW).

The board chair Charles Owino said that Mr Otieno will remain on leave until his fate is decided by the board which is scheduled to meet on Friday.

"Before suspending somebody there are procedures to be followed. The current position is that the MD is on a compulsory leave, pending the decision that will be reached at Friday’s meeting,” said the Chair while dismissing claims that the MD has been suspended, reports the Nation.

Before his leave, Otieno was a man on a hot seat, after 2,000 company workers held demonstrations in the streets of Awendo, Migori county on Monday.

The group was demanding Sh100 million in unpaid salaries.

But Mr Owino dismissed the demo, terming it the working of local politicians whom he did not mention, claiming that they hired the group to protests for reasons best known to them.