Politicians want those who sold Nzoia sugar rejected by voters

The leasing of  Nzoia Sugar Company to a private investor, widely reported as the Rai Group/West Kenya Sugar Company for a 30-year period, has become a major political flashpoint in Western Kenya, with politicians urging voters to reject leaders involved in the deal in the 2026/2027 elections. 

 Senatorial aspirant John Wanyama Mbururu and Zechariah Barasa who is vying for the gubernatorial seat  have said the 30-year lease to a sugar baron is a "betrayal" of farmers and an illegal sale of the birth-right of the People of Bungoma County.

The two who spoke in Siboti in Bumula Sub County Sunday urged the People of Bungoma to vote out anyone who supported the dirty deal.

They  accused top Kenya Kwanza functionaries including National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka and other pro- government officials for orchestrating the handover behind closed doors.

Mr. Wanyama  argued that the lease was a "daylight robbery" and continuation of policies that disadvantaged  local farmers while handing public assets to private cartels. 

Mr. Barasa, a Nairobi businessman said the 30-year leasing of the state-owned miller was a direct and backward mockery to the people of Bungoma and the entire Western Kenya whose livelihoods had been ruined.

He hit out at the Government Operatives for openly lying that  the leasing model was  necessary to secure capital for modernization.

The two fiery politicians demanded an immediate  revolution of the leases to pave way for  revival of the sugar industry. 

The deal, which involved a 30-year lease agreement signed to allow a private enterprise to take over the company’s operations, has sparked intense rivalry, with the two joining a long list of Western Kenya politicians led by Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and his Vihiga Counterpart Godfrey Otsotsi, Bumula MP Jack Wamboka and DAP K Chief Eugene Wamalwa   calling for the "political rejection" of any leader complicit in the process. 

"If any of these leaders  supported the Nzoia Sugar sale  then the People of Bungoma and the entire Western Kenya should  reject  and vote them out", said Mr. Wanyama.

Mr.Barasa blasted President William Ruto and his Political henchmen over leasing of sugar factories to private investors .

 National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula's Phone went unanswered.

Efforts to reach Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka were futile as his phone also went unanswered.