Lugari MP seeks to block plans to import cheap sugar

Lugari MP Ayub Savula. He wants plans to import sugar halted. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

KAKAMEGA COUNTY: Lugari MP Ayub Savula has vowed to move to court to block the national government from importing sugar.

The legislator said importation of the commodity may cripple the local sugar industry as the country currently has enough stock.

Speaking to journalists in Kakamega town, Savula faulted the move by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Felix Koskei to allow importation of cheap sugar from countries that are not members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa).

"I am moving to court to block importation of cheap sugar, as this will adversely affect sugar cane farmers in this country," Savula said.

He noted that most millers in the country have enough stock in their stores to sustain the country until they resume normal operations, and wondered why the Government was rushing to allow importation of the commodity.

"Why should the national government want to import sugar from other countries yet our local millers have more than enough stock? It might have a hidden agenda to kill the ailing sugar industry," Savula said.

CHEAP IMPORTS

He added: "Our local sugar millers have more than 51,000 metric tonnes of sugar in their stores."

He said accused the Government of plotting to kill the sugar industry so that well-connected individuals can flood the local market with cheap imports.

The MP said the Government owed Kenyans an explanation as to why it had sanctioned importation of sugar from Brazil, which is not a member of Comesa.

"Brazil is not a member of Comesa and its sugar should not be allowed in Kenya. These are cartels that want to hurt farmers. Their intention is import sugar from Brazil and pretend it is from Uganda and Egypt," he claimed.

Business people are only allowed to import a maximum of 350,000 tonnes of sugar to meet the annual deficit.