Locals vow to block Nzoia Sugar investor
The group insisted that they will not allow businessman Jaswant Rai to take charge of the factory until the case is fully heard.
Supporters of the Democratic Alliance Party of Kenya (DAP-K) in Bungoma County have pledged to prevent a new investor from assuming control of Nzoia Sugar Company on Thursday, arguing that the takeover goes against court orders which forbid the leasing of the sugar mill.
The group, headed by gubernatorial hopeful Zacharia Baraza, insisted that they will not allow businessman Jaswant Rai to take charge of the factory until the case is fully heard and a ruling is made.
Baraza has criticized the leasing of Nzoia Sugar, stating it violates a valid court order and erodes respect for the rule of law.
Speaking during a press conference in Bungoma town, supporters of the DAP-K party called on the government to honour judicial directives and safeguard the livelihoods tied to the sugar factory.
"We’ve delivered the court orders to all relevant security bodies, and we will not permit any takeover of the factory until the case is fully heard," Baraza emphasized.
He further noted that the party has mobilized its members to rally behind the Nzoia Sugar community in this legal battle.
The High Court had, two weeks earlier, issued an order suspending the leasing process of Nzoia Sugar until May 25, when the matter will come up for mention.
This came after a petition by DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa and others, seeking to halt the tendering of the region’s only sugar factory.
Baraza concluded by saying that DAP-K supporters will be present at the factory gates on Thursday to block any attempts to hand over the facility to a private investor.
"If the government continues to ignore the court's directives, we will take it upon ourselves to block the new investor from accessing the factory," he warned.
At the same time, the board of Nzoia Sugar has moved to reassure farmers that all pending payments will be addressed before the incoming investor assumes control of the mill.
Board chairman Alfred Khang’ati confirmed that the government plans to settle the Sh275 million debt owed to farmers within the next two weeks.
"Our farmers can rest easy knowing their dues will be paid once the new investor steps in," Khang’ati said.
He further stated that the salaries owed to company employees will be cleared ahead of the handover.
“We cannot allow the investor to take over operations while employees remain unpaid,” he said.
According to him, the government has committed to clearing 23 months’ worth of salary arrears for staff members before the end of May.