Workers and Cane Planters of Kibos Sugar Protest It’s Closure

Kibos Sugar Company workers and Sugarcane farmers have today taken to the street to demonstrate against the closure of the Sugar Factory which happened on Friday March 6, 2020.

The farmers and factory employees who were demanding the lifting of the closure orders protested along Oginga Odinga street to Jomo Kenyatta Avenue in Kisumu carrying twigs, placards and also chatting songs against the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).

According to them, the recent closure of the sugar miller by NEMA was a plot from its business rivals.

The chairman of the Kisumu Sugar Belt Cooperative Union Zedekiah Odhiambo said that the closure of the factory will affect 3000 factory employees and over 10,000 farmers who supply cane to the factory.

“Apart from these, there are several businesses such as transport, food, rental houses, suppliers and mama mbogas who also depend on the factory. Something must be done to save these people,” Zedekiah said.

Kibos sugar Factory had been on NEMA’s radar for the last two years over pollution of the environment claims. The residents of Kibos also had protested demanding the closure of the factory.

On Friday last week, NEMA made an impromptu visit to the factory and shut it down over reports that it was emitting waste into the environment.

Richard Korir, the County NEMA Environmental Inspector who received the petition from farmers and factory employees said that he would pass it to the right people who can consider the requests.

“The closure order comes from the headquarters and I cannot address the matter. What I can do is escalate this to the right people who can respond on the requests in the petition,” said Korir.

Last year, Kibos Sugar management threatened to fold their operations in the country and move to another country within the East African Region in what they termed as interference by the system in government, forcing Kisumu Governor Professor Anyang’ Nyongó to intervene.