Ruto woos western with additional Sh5bn to Mumias Sugar

Deputy President William Ruto during a prayer for him by Bishop Beneah Salala at St Mathews Mung'ang'a ACK Church in Kakamega County on September 13, 2015. Mr Ruto helped raise money for the church. PHOTO | ISAAC WALE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Ruto was Speaking on Sunday at a fundraiser for the Mung’ang’a Anglican Church of Kenya in Kakamega County where he urged locals to support the Jubilee administration.
  • Mumias East MP Ben Washiali said the government had injected billions into the sugar factories already and hoped that the money would be used well.
  • Malava MP Malulu Injendi said the western region was ready to support the jubilee administration because of the development projects it has implemented in the area.

Mumias Sugar Company will receive Sh5 billion in addition to Sh1 billion it got early this year, Deputy President William Ruto has said.

The DP said the money would be given out between the months of November and December.

Mr Ruto was Speaking on Sunday at a fundraiser for the Mung’ang’a Anglican Church of Kenya in Kakamega County where he urged locals to support the Jubilee administration.

“You were reluctant to go with me when I quit ODM, but I have come for you now and hope this time around you will follow me,” he said amid cheers.

Mumias East MP Ben Washiali said the government had injected billions into the sugar factories already and hoped that the money would be used well.

“Our wish is that the Sh2 billion we passed in the supplementary budget can be released to Mumias Sugar without further delay,” Mr Washiali said.

Navakhalo MP Emmanuel Wangwe said the government must expedite the disbursement of an extra Sh2 billion meant for the bailout of the sugar miller.

Malava MP Malulu Injendi said the western region was ready to support the jubilee administration because of the development projects it has implemented in the area.

CRUSHING CAPACITY

“We are happy because Mumias Sugar is up and running but we need more funds to improve crushing capacity from the current 400 tonnes per day to the optimum capacity of 8,000 tonnes,” he said.

In the same forum, ODM national youth leader Rashid Mohammed said he had quit the party.

He accused a section of Cord leadership of being behind Mumias Sugar and Cane growers woes adding that he would rather work closely with government which has rolled out plans to revive the factory than those who contributed to near collapse of the giant sugar firm.

Mr Mohammed took issue with Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale for allegedly taking advantage of farmer’s plight to benefit himself.

“We are reliably informed that Dr Khalwale has been compromised to drop (the) push for farmers’ welfare and we warn him to keep off farmer’s problems,” Mr Mohamed said.

The leaders from the region also said the ICC must terminate a criminal case facing Mr Ruto and journalist Joshua arap Sang’ to allow the DP to continue executing his mandate freely.