President William Ruto has reiterated that he will streamline the sugar sector in Western Kenya and restore it to its former glory.
Speaking on Friday in Chwele, Bungoma county, the President said his focus is specifically on reviving the troubled Nzoia Sugar Company.
“Hii Nzoia nitanyorosha,” he said. “And I have said three things; one is farmers must be paid, secondly workers must be paid and at the end of the year, farmers must receive bonuses just like tea farmers,” Ruto said.
The President said there was no reason why sugarcane farmers shouldn't be paid bonuses.
Ruto further encouraged farmers in the Western Kenya region to embrace coffee farming saying it’s a cash crop that can earn the country foreign exchange.
He called on the farmers to also play their bit in complementing government efforts to streamline the sector by electing persons with integrity as cooperative officials.
“Nyinyi kwanza muende mnyoroshe hiyo watu mueke watu ambao wanaweza kusimamia kahawa yenyu vizuri,” he said.
(First, remove bad leaders and put those who can oversee coffee issues well)
The President spoke when he made a stopover in Chwele town on the second day of his three-day tour of Bungoma county.
Ruto will on Saturday preside over 61st Madaraka Day celebrations at Kanduyi stadium in Bungoma themed "Agriculture and Food Security”.
The President will Friday also officially commission the new Passport Processing Centre in Bungoma.
The initiative, which is part of the broader reforms spearheaded by CS Kithure Kindiki, aims to streamline passport processing, addressing the frequent delays experienced by applicants.
Ruto also launched the tarmacking of Mayanja-Sirisia, Mukhweya-Musese and Mukhweya-Kimukung Roads, Kabuchai within Bungoma county.
Earlier on, the President commissioned the Kapkara Earth Dam in Sirisia within Bungoma.
He said the dam holds immense potential to transform the lives of the people of Bungoma.
“It presents to the county reliable water supply and reduces over-dependence on rain-fed agriculture that has limited our food production,” Ruto said.
He said the government is also modernising border points, such as Lwakhakha, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen security measures and encourage cross-border trade with neighbouring countries like Uganda.
