By MN Reporter
ODM leader Raila Odinga has said the Awendo based South Nyanza Sugar company(SONY) will soon be leased to strategic investors and not privatized.
Legislators who accompanied the right honorable Raila Odinga during a recent visit to county.
Odinga said Sony is expected to crash 50,000 tons per day and the government will soon identify strategic investors who will not let farmers and citizens down as majority of Kenyans will depend on sugar production directly or indirectly.
He said himself and President Uhuru agreed to tackle and solve problems bedeviling this nation to improve food security for local consumption and export surplus.
Hon Odinga warned disgruntle elements that the nation is geared towards addressing corruption tainting the nation internationally and citizens will soon get fruits of the handshake as every region will get rightful share from the national cake and cautioned the youth never to support politicians misleading them for selfish gains.
He said Kenya is blessed with resources that if managed well will not depend on donor support and will enable government to initiate tangible income generating activities in parts of the nation and engage unemployed citizens in income generating source of livelihood.
Led by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, the legislators who included senator James Orewngo(Siaya),his Migori counterpart Ochillo Ayacko , Suba South MP John Mbadi who is also the ODM chairman,David Gikaria,Junet Mohammed,Tom Odege,Mark Nyamita, Peter Masara, Sam Atandi among others proposed that nucleus estate of Sony be expanded to cover neighboring counties for sustainability and pay cane deliveries promptly.
They advised that strategic investors should support cane development as proposed to enable the company meet financial obligations with ease.
The legislators said sugar factories have experienced challenges due to financial constrain as grants from treasury also ended up in individual pockets rendering viable sector incurring huge debts as the factories struggle to pay suppliers and farmers’ cane delivery.
Governor Oparanya however advised the government to adopt recommendation of leasing state corporations to strategic investors and not privatization as mooted earlier by corrupt elements out to grab opportunity to acquire wealth fraudulently.
Migori Governor Okoth Obado who attended the ceremony at Ombasa village said elected leaders will convene meeting to strategize possible ways of leasing the Awendo based sugar factory to strategic investors.
