National Super Alliance (NASA) principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi during a past event. [Photo|the-star.co.ke]
A section of Jubilee Party leaders in Western Kenya has accused a NASA co-principal of being behind the woes facing the Mumias Sugar Company.
Led by former ODM national youth leader Rashid Mohammed, the leaders on Saturday claimed Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula was part of local politicians who contributed to the near collapse of the miller.
Mohammed, who vied and lost Mumias East MP seat on Jubilee, accused Wetang'ula of being among the people who sold the company's land in Busia County for Sh40 million.
"The company land was sold at Sh40 million by some of our leaders. I cannot hide it, Wetang'ula was part of the people who sold the piece of land belonging to the Mumias Sugar Company," he said, as quoted by Sunday Standard.
Mohammed was addressing mourners during the burial of Tom Aseka- the son of Mumias Sugar Managing Director Nashon Aseka in Sabatia, Butere Constituency.
Speaking at the same funeral, Wetang'ula dismissed the claims saying lack of laws protecting sugar factories was the main challenge facing the industry.
"The world over, sugarcane farming is protected. But in Kenya, there's no law protecting the industry thus creating uncontrolled poaching," the Senator said.
Wetang'ula further accused President Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee administration of failing to revive the sugar development levy as a measure to streamline factories in the country.
"Jubilee is instead focusing on writing off debts owed to coffee farmers at the expense of cane growers," he added.