Politics will not deal with sugar deficit, leaders told

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Kiprono Kittony addressing members of the press on the ongoing sugar debate in their Nairobi office. (PHOTO: FIDELIS KABUNYI/ STANDARD)

Debate over the Kenya-Uganda sugar deal raged on with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) expressing its support of the agreement.

KNCCI Chairman Kiprono Kittony (pictured) said if the deal is legitimate, it would help solve the sugar deficit the country is facing. He said the issue had been politicised with people failing to see the bigger picture.

"Importation is not meant to weaken the economy rather it serves to help bring development and collaboration between countries. Politics will not increase sugar," he said.

KNCCI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uganda's National Chamber of Commerce and Industry to harbour trade agreements between the two countries. However, Mr Kittony said the MoU was broad and did not focus on specific products. He urged the Government to fast-track the privatisation of sugar factories and diversify sugar growing zones as a way of ending this debate and increase sugar production in the country.

"Most of the sugar companies in Uganda are private and that is why they are able to produce more and better sugar than us. The Government should do the same and privatise our companies," Kittony said. Peter Biwott, the trade and development manager at KNCCI, accused political leaders of being subjective while raising their issues.