Cane farmers and suppliers in Chemelil zone have appealed to Agriculture CS Felix Koskei and the Chemelil factory management to speed the process of the factory starting to crash cane again.
The factory has not been crashing awaiting installation of a new Turbine Alternator which was meant to enhance Chemelil’s effectiveness by producing power.
Agriculture CS Felix Koskei visited the factory early January where he said the Kshs 105 M turbine alternator would be fixed in two weeks for the company to restart operations. However, famers and suppliers led by former Director of Kenya Sugar Board Director Joseph Bonyo are now worried since the Engineers from India who were to fix it have not arrived.
Bonyo who is also the Chairman of Chemelil Out growers Company said they are running out of patience adding that famers are suffering and their livelihood is at stake. Bonyo says the CS had promised the factory would start crashing cane after two weeks adding that the period has elapsed and nothing is happening.
Bonyo has appealed to local leaders led by the area Mp for Muhoroni Onyango Koyoo to intervene and help save the thousands of lives that rely on chemelil sugar factory. “ We are reading malice and sabotage into the delay of the installation of the machine,”. He told the Press.
The factory’s MD Charles Owele had said commissioning of the turbine will avail 3 megawatts of electricity to the factory and enable the company save a Kshs. 12 million monthly power bill currently incurred from Kenya Power Company.