Kenya Sugarcane Growers Association (KESGA) has made replacements at the helm of the association.
KESGA members who are mainly farmers converged in Kisumu on Saturday during their Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elected new officials.
The Secretary General of KESGA Richard Ogendo said the former chairman Ibrahim Juma was replaced during the elections with Christopher Sifuna.
Ogendo said the election was necessitated by the abandonment of the association by the chairman and other officials.
“Members felt that the former chairman abandoned his duties thus the election of Sifuna who comes from Nzoia sugar belt region,” he said.
Speaking during the AGM at Vunduba hotel, the newly elected chairman said he will push the agenda of farmers which he said had been left hanging.
Sifuna said farmers should be paid promptly and not to wait for long as being witnessed across the country.
“Farmers continue to languish in poverty yet our factories are announcing huge profits every financial year. It will be my duty to push for farmers to get their rightful payments in time,” he said.
Sifuna said many farmers are moving away from cane farming due to frustrations and noted that he will push to have some of the policies implemented.
Samuel Bonyo who was elected the Treasure said farmers have been neglected by the representatives who have been elected to represent them.
Bonyo said the new officials will inject new life in the association and continue agitating for the rights of farmers.