KENYA: Human rights group wants Miwani Sugar back online
Published: 07/11/2012, 2:53:14 PM
Human rights organisations from the Nyando Sugar belt have urged the government to revive Miwani Sugar Company, according to Kenya's Nairobi Star newspaper.
Led by Sugar Campaign for Change representative David Sum, they said the company has been dogged with litigations which have paralysed its operations.
Addressing reporters in Narok town yesterday, Sum said the Miwani Sugar Company has capacity to produce 40,000 metric tonnes of sugar. "What could be hindering the process of reviving Miwani? The company owns almost 10,000 acres of land," Sum said. He said the country has an annual sugar deficit of 200,000 metric tonnes.
Sum said if dilapidated and state-owned factories such as Miwani, Muhoroni, Nzoia, Sony and Chemelil are modernised, the sugar deficit will be something of the past. He said a workforce of 1,200 employees directly employed and another 8,000 indirectly employed were laid off. Sum said South African Investors, a local investor and farmers have shown interest in investing in Miwani but the government has remained aloof.