Muhoroni residents opposed to sale of Miwani Sugar factory land

 

Muhoroni MP James Onyango K'Oyoo addressing the press at Constituency office where he says the area residents are opposed to any intention to sell the Miwani Sugar Land to a private developer 

By Dickson Odhiambo

May 4, 2022

Muhoroni residents opposed to sale of Miwani Sugar factory land

A section of residents of Muhoroni constituency within Kisumu County have vehemently opposed to any attempt to sale the land that belongs to Miwani Sugar factory to a private developer.

Through their Member of Parliament James Onyango K’Oyoo, the residents have appealed to the national Government not to allow a private developer purchase the land at all cost.

Addressing the residents after awarding full-four year scholarship to 64 students needy but bright who are joining form one National schools, K’Oyoo says any plan to have a private developer taking the land will be opposed at all cost.

K’Oyoo says the land is a public land which has been designed for sugar cane growing hence no private developer should lay his or her hands on it, adding that the public is ready to take it back if the government can’t put it meaningful use for the benefit of Kenyans citizens.

K’Oyoo says if the Government is ready to revive the factory or set up another meaningful business that will help in creating job opportunities then it will be good for the benefit of Kenyans.

“The only thing that Muhoroni residents don’t want to hear is that a private developer is taking the land which belongs to the public. This will be very much unfair and won’t be tolerated at all cost,” K’Oyoo says.

The Muhoroni Member of Parliament alleges that a private company is being fronted to take over the Miwani Sugar factory land for private use without properly consulting the residents of the area.

“We will not allow the Government to sell public land to the Government and instead we are ready to give the land for free to the Government and not a private developer,” he says.

He adds that the land had already been earmarked for the Special Economic Zone {SEZ} project by the National Government and this is a good move indeed.

He says the land has never been sold to any private developer as claimed by some powerful forces from the Government.

On Thursday this week, there will be a public participation process on the issue of Miwani Sugar Factory land where locals will give their views on the issue.

Miwani Sugar Factory collapsed more than 30 years ago in 1989 and has been put under receivership since then.

There have been plans to privatize the company alongside other four state owned sugar millers namely Muhoroni Sugar Factory, Chemelil Sugar Factory, Nzoia and Sony Sugar Factory.

President Uhuru Kenyatta formed a sugar task force and a report was made concerning the State-owned sugar millers across the country.