KAKAMEGA, Kenya, Jan 5 — The apparent movement of assorted equipment from Kakamega-based sugar miller Mumias has reignited a fresh wave of suspicion casting doubt on government’s recent commitment to help settle a debt owed to farmers.
Concerns emerged Wednesday after trailer trucks were photographed carrying what appeared to be factory equipment from Mumias Sugar Factory.
The latest activity came just weeks after President William Ruto announced a plan to revive the sugar mill.
During a meeting with local leaders at the Kakamega State Lodge on December 9, 2022, President Ruto committed to find a new strategic investor to replace Ugandan firm — Sarrai — which had controversially won a lease to run the mill in December 2021.
Sources at the factory confirmed that two trailers carted away factory equipment to an unknown location.
The equipment is believed to be heavy duty rollers used as shredders to cut sugar cane into small pieces. Other photographs showed heaters used to heat the cane juice during the manufacturing process.
Sarrai’s lease was revoked by Justice Alfred Mabeya of the High Court on April 14, 2022.
The judge wondered why the lowest bidder with Sh5 billion bid was selected when higher bids were more than five times higher.
He also wondered how Sh5 billion would settle a debt totaling Sh23 billion.
Justice Mabeya appoint a new receiver manager Kerato Mirima to replace the previous receiver manager PV Rao who had awarded the lease to Sarrai.
Rao moved to court to challenge the ruling but Justice Wilfrida Okwany declined to hear Rao’s application in December 2022.
The ruling meant that Justice Mabeya’s order which appointed a new receiver manager and suspended Sarrai’s lease was still in effect.
Sarrai’s continued running of the mill has continued to be the subject of a bitter legal battle with the Court of Appeal sustaining High Court orders refraining the investor from managing the mill.
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