Eight Governors come up with initiatives to help in addressing crisis in the sugar industry.

 Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong'o who is the chairperson of the chairperson of the Lake Region Economic Bloc address the press in Kisumu where they announced Rapid Response Initiative {RRI} to address key problems in the sugar industry-Photo By James Keyi

By Dickson Odhiambo.

November 10, 2017.

Eight Governors come up with initiatives to help in addressing crisis in the sugar industry.

EIGHT Governors within the Larger West Kenya region have instituted a Rapid Response Initiative {RRI} to address key problems in the sugar industry.

The seven Governors Prof Peter Anyang Nyong’o of Kisumu, Prof Paul Chepkwony of Kericho, Stephen Sang of Nandi,Kakamega’s Wickliffe  Oparanya , James Ongwae of Kisii,Okoth Obado of Migori and Cyprian Awiti of Homa Bay have come up with what they have termed as deliverable Rapid Response Initiative.

Addressing the press after attending a meeting of the Governors of the Lake Region Economic Bloc, Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o who is also the chairperson of the Bloc read the resolution about the initiative and said some of the RRI include the payment of the arrears to the sugar cane farmers and the staff at the sugar factories.

They have also resolved to have write-off of taxes on sugar cane as well as re-engineering the management of the sugar factories.

The governors have further resolved to achieving sustainable sugar cane production as well as addressing importation of sugar.

The meeting also condemned the unwarranted importation of sugar by some millers.

The Governors have also called upon all the millers to respect the contractual agreements with farmers regarding the prices paid for the sugar cane deliveries.

“No Governor will support any move to lower the cane prices by the said millers,” they say.

As the part of the RRI, the governors have said that the county government in the region and the Department of Agriculture at the national level will next week convene a meeting to address some of the issues affecting the sugar industry.

“The meeting will seek viable solutions to the challenges facing the sugar Industry in the region and these efforts will be linked to similar efforts in other sugar growing areas in the country for a national approach and a common platform to rejuvenate the sugar industry in Kenya,” they add.

The Governors have also resolved to present a legal framework for the Lake Region Economic Bloc to their respective county assemblies for enactment into the law by the end of this year.

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