President William Ruto has vowed that his administration will not privatize or sell any sugar mills, as some politicians have claimed.
The head of state also revealed that his administration will inject Sh3 billion to support sugarcane development for farmers in the next financial year.
The President criticized the foolish and irresponsible claims by some politicians that Kenya's Kwanzaa government is planning to put several sugar mills up for sale.
“Some leaders are raving about problems that don't exist. They're saying our factories will be sold. Let me say it here in the church.There will be no sale or privatization of sugar companies,” Ruto said.
The president said the government plans what it calls lease management to ensure “the best sugar supply to our farmers, our employees and our industry, and to ensure we have enough sugar.”
The President said that a successful government would cancel all debts of failed sugar mills.
“We have given all sugar mills a certificate stating that they are debt-free,” Ruto said.
The President said Chemerir, Muhoroni, Sony and Nzoia Sugar Mills had obtained Mumias certificates and would be disposed of as soon as the “minor issue of the remaining Sh4 billion” was resolved.
The President accused some politicians of giving misleading information to Kenyans about the government's strategic intervention in sugar factories.
Mr Ruto claimed that one of the MPs who publicly criticized him over his claims of privatization and sale of sugar mills did not support the government's bill to cancel the debt of sugar mills.
“The same lawmaker who made the stupid noise at me was not even present in Parliament during the debate on the Sh117 billion debt cancellation,” Ruto said, without naming the politician. He said this.
“He was at a demonstration that day. He asked me how it was possible for a member of Congress not to show up when Congress is canceling billions in debt owed by sugar mills. We should teach them.”
The president took time to interject with the parliamentarians, saying that they were nowhere to be seen when the sugar bill was being debated in parliament.
“If you are interested in national issues, you should be there early in the morning when important issues that affect voters are being debated,” Ruto said.
The President said he would not play a political role on issues that affect Kenyans, adding that as the leader of Kenyans, he was also saddened by the people's cries.
“You can't just oppose everything for the sake of everything,” Ruto said.
The President spoke on Sunday, February 4, 2024, while attending an interdenominational church service at the approved school grounds in Kakamega.
