Sugar deal a ploy to impoverish my stronghold, says Raila

CORD leader Raila Odinga Friday sensationally claimed that the controversial sugar deal between Kenya and Uganda would benefit Deputy President William Ruto.

Raila further claimed that if the deal is honoured, it would amount to economic sabotage because of what he said was a deliberate move to impoverish his political stronghold.

“Past regimes frustrated these two regions and President Kenyatta is following in their footsteps. Why should he rush to Uganda after giving Mumias Company a one billion shilling bailout. He is not sincere as a leader and farmers should say No to such oppression. I have a responsibility to fight for the poor,’’ said Raila.

Speaking in Busia and Chemelil, the Opposition leader claimed that Ruto would be a prime beneficiary of the trade agreement, whose existence the government has already denied. He once again questioned the source of the money that the Deputy President has been contributing in various fundraisers across the country.

“We have been fighting to reform the sugar sector to effectively compete with commodities from other countries, but the Jubilee government is derailing that effort. I want to repeat here that the DP is the high priest of corruption and his claiming that I owe Mumias Sugar Company money is neither here nor there,” Raila said.

Others who attended the rallies included governors Sospeter Ojaamong, Cornel Rasanga, Senator Amos Wako, MPs Ababu Namwamba, John Mbadi, Junet Mohammed, Gladys Wanga, Godfrey Odanga, Lisamula Anami and Busia Speaker Bernard Wamalwa.

The former premier acknowledged that Kenya and Uganda were good neighbours and could cooperate on trade in other commodities, but not on sugar because Uganda has no capacity to produce adequate sugar supplies for export. He noted that sugar prices in Kenya were higher than in Uganda.

“We can do business with Uganda on other goods but sugar is not among them. Their capacity is very low, where will they get the extra sugar to bring to Kenya? Uganda gets sugar from Brazil. This is a game to give sugar barons freedom to continue with the illegal trade because the government is benefiting from them,’’ he said.

Ojaamong said the deal had dealt a big blow to his Busia county, as he plans to commission a new cane factory under construction at Busibwabo in March next year.

“We had anticipated that the upcoming factory would offer employment to Busia residents. We are now in a dilemma,’’ he said.

Raila it was the role of the Opposition  to offer constructive criticism. “The work of the Opposition is not to support the government always but to correct it. They promised laptops to Class One pupils, they have not delivered. Corruption and insecurity has increased. That is why we are here to meet cane farmers and educate them about the sugar deal that will kill cane industries,’’ he said.

Namwamba echoed his party boss’ sentiments and said that since Kenya gained independence, there had been a deliberate plan by governments to destroy the economy of the western region.

“The issue of cane is so sensitive and affects the lives of residents in sugar belt regions. We are pained as leaders because we know since independence there has been a history and a clear determination to destroy the economy of this region. We want to make a positive decision about sugar issue,’’ said the ODM Secretary General.

He said the Mumias bailout was a ploy to woo the western voters.

Mbadi said the region’s key economic pillars cane, cotton and Webuye Pan Paper Mills had all collapsed.