MP, Sugar activist calls for investigations about Companies allowed to import Sugar

Muhoroni MP James Onyango K'Oyoo{R} addressing the press in Kisumu today where they have asked DCI to investigate ten companies that have been allowed to import Sugar from Uganda-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

By Dickson Odhiambo

January 18, 2021

MP,  Sugar activist calls for investigations about Companies allowed to import Sugar

Muhoroni Member of Parliament James Onyango K’Oyoo has called upon the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to immediately commence investigations on the ten Companies that have been allowed to import sugar from Uganda despite not meeting the requirement within the law.

K’Oyoo claims that some of the ten Companies were registered last year in May and June and have been allowed to import sugar from Uganda without following the due process and providing a three year audited statements of accounts and the Kenya Revenue Authority’s Tax Clearance Certificates.

Addressing the Press conference in Kisumu today, K’Oyoo who was accompanied by a renowned Sugar Activist Richard Ogendo representing the Kenya Sugarcane Growers Association {KESGA} claimed that the ten Companies only belongs to two individuals and six of them have never met the requirement on sugar importation.

The Member of Parliament and the activist claim that in a letter dated 24 December 2020 by the Acting Commissioner for Customs and Border Control gave a duty waiver to the ten companies which have brought in the country Sugar after the COMESA quota of 270,000 metric tones was already exhausted,adding that this raises questions which needs to be answered.

The lawmaker has challenged the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Peter Munya to tell the country when he lifted the ban imposed on sugar importation.

“Was it necessary to bring in sugar from Uganda knowing its net effect that includes farmers and workers would not be able to even pay schools for their children this January,? ” they ask in a press statement.

The two further claims that those who have been sabotaging the leasing process of the state owned sugar millers are the same people who now import sugar from Uganda into the country and driving the farmers to a life of poverty against the spirit of handshake projects.

The duo have asked about the origin of the sugar being imported into the country, adding that the COMESA area is a net sugar deficit.

“There is no provision for rolling over sugar that has come in after the COMESA quota has been exhausted. In whose interests is the Acting Commissioner of Customs protecting and why, ?” they further ask.

The MP and the Sugar Activist now demand that the 57,000 metric tonnes cleared by the Kenya Revenue Authority must pay 100 percent duty as provided by law.

“In the forgoing, the Government should cushion the local sugar industries by giving them short term grants before the leasing process takes effect to pay farmers and workers their pending dues. In Muhoroni Constituency, the Government plans to leases Muhoroni, Chemelil and Miwani Sugar Companies,” K’Oyoo further says.

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