Miller wants State to stem cane poaching

By ROBERT WANYONYI

BUSIA COUNTY, KENYA: Mumias Sugar Company (MSC) has decried the re-emergence of cane poaching in its zone.

The company now wants the government to introduce stricter measures to end the menace.

Speaking to The Standard in Mumias, the firm’s Managing Director Peter Kebati said the company is currently losing 800 tonnes of its cane daily to agents working illegally for a rival sugar miller, thereby causing his firm some serious financial problems.

The MD added that due to its contractual obligations with its farmers, MSC is being forced to meet its part of the bargain in spite of the cane poaching menace that has seen its machines operate below capacity.

“In monetary terms, we are losing about Sh2.4 million daily due to the re-emergence of the cane theft in a new form. We value our farmers and that’s why we have resolved to continue paying them prices based on our earlier agreements regardless of the negative market forces,” announced Kebati.