Sugarcane farmers in Nyando sugar belt region have faulted Kisumu County Governor Jack Ranguma’s statement to allow Mumias Sugar Company to crush burnt cane from the area.
Kenya Sugarcane Growers Association secretary general Richard Ogendo termed the statement as political.
Ogendo said Mumias sugar does not own transport fleets that will be able to transport the burnt cane on time to the factory.
“The governor should work with the contracted transporters in Mumias to transport the cane on time instead of giving false hope to farmers,” he said.
He said during dry seasons cane fires are rampant as a result of arsonists and the governor ought to have put measures in place to help cane farmers have their cane crushed.
Ogendo said Ranguma should release funds to Mumias contracted transport companies to enable them transport all burnt cane in the Nyando sugar belt to the factory on time.
Ranguma who visited Chemelil Sugar Company announced that he had authorised Mumias Sugar Company to outsource burnt sugarcane from the region.
He said he has taken the move since Chemelil had been closed for maintenance since September last year and Muhoroni and Kibos sugar factories are unable to crush in time due to the influx of burnt cane.