Africa-Press – Kenya. Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has said the importation of cheap sugar into the country is the reason why sugar industry is ailing.
He said it is unfortunate that the country can’t do away with importing because it is brought about by a shortfall in production.
“It’s unfortunate that those who were mandated to import the sugar to cover up the shortfall took it as an alternative to frustrate our farmers,” Khalwale said.
“Through that frustration of importing cheap sugar into our market, now our industries have collapsed and those that are yet, they are struggling to sustain themselves,” he added.
The lawmaker spoke with the Star on phone on Monday while in Nairobi.
Khalwale believes that farmers should be the ones mandated to import sugar through their Out growers Association.
Khalwale said once farmers have been mandated to import, they will only do so to cover up the shortfall in their production and not to kill their business.
“Furthermore when they import that sugar, they will be the direct beneficiaries in that importation as compared to currently where they don’t benefit on the sugar importations.”
He said even those leaders who pretend to be speaking on issues of the sector, have no history of protecting millers.
“Most of the leaders here don’t understand the complexity of that problem as they have gone to bed with those fighting to destroy the sector,” he said.
Khalwale said President William Ruto is completely committed in reviving the sector and already a cabinet resolution on sugar sector is on.
The lawmaker said he was glad that Ruto ignored the privatisation idea that was recently taking place.
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