NAIROBI, Kenya, May 19 — The High Court in Nairobi has rescheduled the sentencing of Sarbjit Singh Rai, Rakesh Kumar and Stephen Kihumba of Sarrai Group to June 15 in a contempt of court case.
This is after Justice Dorah Chepkwony recused herself from the Mumias Sugar lease case since she has been transferred.
The three officials were directed to appear before Justice Alfred Mabeya, the Presiding Judge of the Commercial Division, and show cause why they should be jailed for contempt of court, for continued operations at Mumias Sugar Company (MSC) despite being ordered to stop.
Justice Chepkwony found the three officials guilty of contempt of court last month and fined them Sh100,000 before directing them to appear before judge Mabeya for sentencing because she was on transfer.
Justice Mabeya, on his part, pushed the sentencing of Rai, Rakesh Kumar and Kihumba to June 15 before Justice Josephine Mongare.
Sarbjit Singh Rai is the owner of Uganda-based Sarrai Group that controversially won 20-year lease to operate Mumias Sugar Company.
In April, Judge Chepkwony ruled that Sarrai Group had proceeded with the operations at the miller despite being ordered to cease operations on July 28, 2022.
The Uganda-based company had been awarded a 20-year-lease to operate the troubled miller but it was later cancelled.
Contest over Mumias administration
KCB Group, which had placed the miller under administration had challenged the decision and were granted temporary orders in September 2022, for them to continue operating, a stand supported by Sarrai Group.
In his ruling on April 14, 2022, Justice Mabeya said if the lowest lease amount of Sh5.8 billion by Sarrai Group was accepted, the sugar miller would never bounce back to profit.
He said the amount was not even sufficient to settle the debt owed, pay cane farmers and resume the company’s operations.
“The receiver manager cum administrator was seriously conflicted in awarding the lease to Sarrai Group.”
“The lease should have been awarded to a company with financial muscle to bring the company back to life. I do not understand why he disregarded the highest bidders,” Mabeya said in his ruling.
Tumaz and Tumaz emerged as the top bidder with Sh27.6 billion for a 20-year lease in the Mumias Sugar bidding process which had attracted a total of eight bidders.
