Nothing sweet for sugar cane growers

The 2020/21 budget has dashed hopes of sugar cane farmers after the National Treasury failed to address salient issues crippling the sector.

Farmers had pegged their hopes on the Sugar Task Force Report that was handed to President  Kenyatta in February, but Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani did not mention how the report would be implemented.

Mr Simeon Wesechere, the deputy secretary of the Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers, said it is disappointing that the government continues to ignore the sector, which is western Kenya’s economic lifeline.

“We’re shocked because nothing was mentioned about the revival of the sugar sector. We’re asking MPs from the sugar-growing zones to take up the matter so that the suffering farmers are going through in the region can be addressed,” he said.

Matungu MP Justus Murunga, a member of the National Assembly’s Agriculture and Livestock committee, said they had allocated Sh100 million to the financially struggling Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma County.

“We are hoping that the issues will be addressed comprehensively when the first supplementary budget is discussed in the National Assembly,” he said

But Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali was upbeat after Sh3.2 billion was allocated to the investigative agencies to deal with pending cases involving corrupt officials.

He urged the DPP and the DCI to move with speed to recover funds that were stolen from Mumias Sugar, crippling the miller financially.

Mr Richard Ogendo, a sugar cane farmer in Kisumu, expected the government not to levy VAT on sugar cane, but collect the tax from retailers and wholesalers.

In Homa Bay, a lobby, Interface Community Help Desk, termed the allocation of funds to support the digital literacy programme as a waste of public resources since it was discriminatory to some students especially those with special needs.

In Vihiga, youth groups welcomed the budget estimates, calling them a major boost to their operations following adverse effects on the economy.

Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka told the Kisii county government to use well Sh16 billion it was allocated in the budget and ensure the money benefits the residents.

In the 2020/21 financial year, the government will spend Sh800 to support digital learning from local TV and radio stations.

Finance Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani in his budget speech yesterday said the funds will support digital literacy and competence based curriculum.

But a civic group in Homa Bay said the programme is discriminatory to some students and should not be allocated any funds.

Members of the group, Interface Community Help Desk said the programme does not favor learners who have special needs.

Group chairman Evance Oloo said for example, the programme does not help learners who are visually impaired.

“Students who cannot see are not able to grasp what is being shown on the television,” he said.

He added that students in some areas do not have access to TV or radios that will enable them to learn.

Ugunja MP Mr Opiyo Wandayi who is also the Parliamentary Accounts Committee chairman noted that being a post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery budget, the ministry of finance had to balance a number of factors

"It contains some good proposals. The main concern is how the budget deficit will be bridged given our current suffocating debt levels," he noted.

In Vihiga, youth groups in the county welcomed the budget estimates terming them as a major boost to their operations following adverse effects on the economy.

Through the umbrella body, Vihiga Youth in Business, the youth said they are pleased with a plan to engage up to 200,000 unemployed people through the Kazi Mashinani Initiative.

Mr Ibrahim Memba, the lobby chairman, said: “We see it being done in a better way that data and the facts on the ground in regards to beneficiaries can sync. This is the only language the youth of this nation will understand,” he said.

Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka however called on the Kisii county government to make good use Sh16bn that the devolved unit was allocated in the budget and ensure that the money benefit the residents.

The devolved unit is expected to receive 16bn including conditional grants in the financial year 2020/2021.

“I am appealing to all members of the county assembly to play their oversight role in ensuring stalled projects are finalized,” said the lawmaker.

Reporting by Benson Amadala, Victor Raballa, Rushdie Oudia, Dickens Wasonga, George Odiwuor, Derrick Luvega and Benson Ayienda.