The herculean task Khang’ati and new Nzoia Sugar Board faces

In Summary

• Appointees, Expectations
• Khang’ati’s reaction
• Nzoia MD’s reaction
• Fire disaster statistics
• Nzoia properties
• Privatization

President William Ruto has in GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 1902 of THE STATE CORPORATIONS ACT (Cap. 446) NZOIA SUGAR COMPANY LIMITED APPOINTMENT IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 6 (1) (a) of the State Corporations Act appointed ALFRED KHANG’ATI to be the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Nzoia Sugar Company Limited, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 17th February, 2023.

Subsequently in GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 1905 of THE STATE CORPORATIONS ACT (Cap. 446) NZOIA SUGAR COMPANY LIMITED APPOINTMENT IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 6 (1) (e) of the State Corporations Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mithika Linturi on 16th February, 2023 did appoint;

1. Elizabeth Mudukiza Iminza
2. Patrice Chumba
3. Millicent Anyango Abudho
4. Benson Madebe Chahasi
5. Bonface Okhiya Otsiula
6. Eunice Wanjiru Karanja
7. Okwakau Ino Jonathan

The appointments took effect on 17th Feb 2023

The appointments come a few days after Nzoia Sugar nucleus estate lost about 882 acres to fire whose cause remains a mystery with one person arrested with ongoing investigations. The fire that enjoyed a field day due to lack of fire engines in Bungoma, Kakamega and TransNzoia Counties racked havoc for two days undeterred as everyone looked on helplessly.

Breakdown of the burnt surface;

• 88ha … 220 acres – young cane (2-6months old)
• 108ha… 270acres – Harvest-able cane
• the remainder was fallow (bush)

Nzoia Sugar Company Limited Managing Director Mr. Chrispine Omondi has welcomed the President’s and CS appointments saying it will fill the huge gap that was left by the previous Board that ended their work prematurely. He indicated that he and the entire management had eagerly been waiting for this as he promised full corporation and support.

The MD also indicates that the Company has stepped up surveillance on the 10,000 acre estate by deploying 90 security men and women as they work on resurrecting cane farming on the burnt farms.

490 acres of cane in the nucleus was burnt

Over decades, the company has struggled to stay on its feet despite the numerous times the National government has attempted to financially resuscitate it with peanut installments of cash previously qualified to be political handouts by locals, this has been hugely blamed on poor management and lack of political goodwill thus the appointment of a no nonsense Khang’ati to boost the company management muscle.

The former Kanduyi MP who also served on the Intergovernmental Committee will chair a strong board of political bigwigs including former Bumula MP Hon. Boniface Otsyula who previously served on Nzoia board and Millicent Abudho the Ford Kenya Deputy Party leader

General Expectations:

1. Modernizing the mill
2. Paying employees
3. Paying farmers
4. Maintenance of the nucleus
5. … and saving it from privatization (according to locals)

The Parastatal that settles on 3,600 ha (10,000 acres) is expected to embrace partnership with the County government of Bungoma to enhance its operations and development at the facility.

PRIVATIZATION:
These appointments have ultimately dampened the privatization efforts at least for now. It must be remembered that the previous board’s term was prematurely ended supposedly in preparation for privatization. This means either the government has opted to go slow on Privatization or its just a move to give life to the factory before its privatized.

During the 2022 Election campaigns, the Kenya Kwanza principals Speaker Wetangula and President Ruto did promise farmers and Bungoma residents that their incoming government would equip the factory with new machines, pump in more funds should they be elected. This therefore is an indicator that they meant their word and focus to revive the sugar plant.

Critics nevertheless insist this team’s core mandate is to bring the company back to its feet before privatization talks can be revisited. So failure to achieve much will also be a reason to privatize the company that the Kenya Kwanza government intends to pump Billions in.

Out of the 10,000acres ikuweikuwe.com has also learnt that Nzoia Sugar Company Limited’s other properties include:

• 1 acre in Kileleshwa – Nairobi
• Two collection Centres (weighbridge); They are not operational due lack of equipment

1. 1. 1. Makhese
      2. Weyeta

Bungoma Governor Ken Makelo Lusaka, Kanduyi MP Hon. John Makali and ikuweikuwe.com have welcomed the appointments with locals crediting them to Ford Kenya Party Leader and National Assembly speaker Moses Masika Wetangula for striving to achieve the 30% stake for Western.

Am grateful for the opportunity to serve our people. Regarding other matters, I will make a statement once I have reported to work and been fully briefed together with my new colleagues. At the moment, am excited and look forward to meet my colleagues and also take this opportunity to congratulate them.

~ Hon. Alfred Khangati ~