President William Ruto has threatened to take action against individuals he accused of frustrating the operations of the Kenya Sugar Board, saying the dispute has prevented the use of about Sh4 billion collected through the sugar levy.
Speaking during the Agriculture and Food Security Presidential Town Hall at Jamhuri Park in Nairobi on Thursday, Ruto said the money was meant to fund road improvements, develop and supply seed cane to farmers and support research into better sugarcane varieties.
“We have collected about Sh4 billion from the sugar levy to ensure we have passable roads, develop seed cane and supply seed cane to farmers and ensure there is research on better varieties of cane for development,” he said.
Ruto said the funds had not been utilised because individuals he claimed he had previously removed from the sector had regrouped and taken their dispute over the Kenya Sugar Board to court.
“Unfortunately, we have not been able to use this money because the characters that I chased have gone to regroup again,” he said.
Ruto accused the unnamed individuals of holding the sugar industry hostage for what he described as selfish interests, and said farmers should be allowed to elect representatives to the Kenya Sugar Board.
“Wale watu wa mambo ni matatu and I want to repeat, I know them, I know who they are and I know they are listening to me,” he said.
Addressing those challenging the board in court, Ruto warned: “Nyinyi ambao mmezungusha Kenya Sugar Board in court, I want to warn you, you cannot hold hostage a whole industry for purposes of your own selfish interests.”
He said farmers had a right to elect members to the board, which would then decide how the levy funds should be used.
Ruto then issued a stern warning, mixing English and Kiswahili, as he vowed to intervene to resolve the dispute.
“So mnipatie tu nafasi kidogo nitafute nyundo, because hii Kenya kuna watu hawaelewi another language, wacha nitawashughulikia ndio tukuwe na board, they know themselves and they know I know,” he said.
The remarks come amid ongoing disputes surrounding the constitution and operations of the Kenya Sugar Board, with the President maintaining that the impasse was delaying interventions intended to benefit sugarcane farmers and the wider industry.
