MPs faulted for shooting down report

Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa (centre) with Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo (left) and FAO representative in Kenya Gabriel Rugalema at Sosa Cottages during the first investment conference held by the county government of Vihiga. [Eric Lungai/Standard]

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has censured MPs for shooting down a report on contraband sugar.

Mr Wamalwa said by rejecting the report, the legislators showed they did not have sugarcane farmers' interests at heart.

Speaking during the homecoming party of Kabula MCA Vitalis Sifuna in Bumula on Sunday, Wamalwa said it was embarrassing that some MPs took bribes to reject the report.

“It is so disheartening to see MPs being mentioned as being corrupt by receiving a little as Sh10,000 or Sh30,000 to shoot down the important report. They should have considered the plight of poor farmers,” he said.

Wamalwa noted that by shooting down the report, local sugar companies were highly likely to collapse due to continued importation of cheap sugar from Comesa producing countries.

Restore order

Wamalwa urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to form a commission to investigate importation of contraband sugar.

Meanwhile, Wamalwa said his Agriculture counterpart Mwangi Kiunjuri would soon gazette new regulations that would help restore order in the sugar industry.

Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga told President Uhuru Kenyatta to safeguard his legacy, by ensuring industries started by his father do not collapse.

He threatened to withdraw support for the Jubilee government if the State does not address plight of local cane farmers.

“We want you to leave a clean legacy. Don’t allow sugar factories that were started by your father, including Mumias and Nzoia to collapse. You would have ruined your legacy,” he said.

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa said Majority Leader Aden Duale opposed the report because he does not understand the plight of cane farmers.