Sugarcane farmers in Kisumu county have revealed alleged plans to sell off three of the state-owned sugar milling factories in the county secretly.
Through the Kenya Sugarcane Association, the farmers claim that there are plans to dispose of the Miwani, Muhoroni and Chemelil factories through a backdoor transaction.
The farmers are now demanding that the tendering process for the same be done in an open manner, failure to which the plan will be rejected by farmers and local leaders.
“Let them continue with their boardroom meetings with a few brokers but they should know that farmers will have the final say,” the association Secretary-General Richard Ogendo said on Thursday.
He said that the alleged plans are being spearheaded by some Asian tycoons out to seize control of the factories, whom he claimed is working in collaboration with cartels.
He also warned the Lake Region Economic Block against allowing itself to be dragged into the secret plan, urging it to stick to fighting for the interest of sugarcane farmers.
"Work directly with farmers in the cane growing zones and instead of taking a few people in a hotel in disguise of meeting farmers,” he told potential investors.
Muhoroni and Chemelil factories have been limping lately, while Miwani has completely halted operations.