SUGAR
The Kenya Union of Sugarcane Plantation and Allied Workers (KUSPAW) has threatened to stop the planned leasing of state-owned sugar factories citing pending workers salary arrears. Union Secretary General Francis Wangara said the government which has put up five state owned millers for leasing has failed to clear salary arrears for workers amounting to Sh.5.3 billion.
Wangara said it was unfortunate that the government has focused on the clearance of farmers’ arrears ignoring the plight of workers who are reeling in debts after going for years without payment.
The government, he added was focused on proceeding with the leasing process upon clearance of farmers dues as announced by the President during Madaraka Day celebrations in Bungoma, adding that workers were likely to lose out since it was not possible for the firms which will be awarded the factories to honor their arrears.
“We expected the president to pronounce himself on this matter during Madaraka day celebrations, but he only focused on farmers arrears,” he said. The union, he said was preparing to move to court to stop the process which is at an advanced stage to ensure that the workers arrears are cleared.
“We are watching keenly and any move by the government to proceed with the leasing shall be met with a court order suspending the exercise,” he said. The Ministry of Agriculture, he said, has continued to play lip service with the matter with no clear indications on when the money was going to be paid.
In his Madaraka Day Speech, President William Ruto said the government will release Sh 100 million to pay Nzoia Sugar Company workers, a move Wangara said was positive but unfair to workers in the state-owned mills.
“We appreciate the gesture because Nzoia Sugar Company workers are our members, but the government should know that workers at all the five companies are owed and therefore any payments being done should go to all the factories and not one,” he said. Whereas the union supports the leasing programme, Wangara asked the government to consider clearing the workers’ arrears to ensure that the programme is not stifled.
“We are anchoring this on the court case which stopped the privatisation of the factories. We want the government to know that there shall be no leasing until all our members are paid,” he said. The Agriculture Ministry has put up Nzoia, South Nyanza (SONY), Chemelil, Muhoroni and Miwani sugar companies for lease.
The government owns 98.8% stake in Sony, 97.93 % in Nzoia, 96.22% in Chemelil, 82.8% stake in Muhoroni and 49% in Miwani. Through the program, the government targets to inject capital in the firms which are struggling in a bid to revive the sugar sector which is a mainstay for millions of Kenyans.