A Win-Win Situation for County as West Sugar Nears MOU
The County Government of Trans Nzoia is in talks to establish a partnership with West Sugar’s Naitiri subsidiary, aiming to enhance support for the over 50,000 sugarcane farmers in the region. The planned cooperation, announced by Governor George Natembeya on Wednesday, is expected to improve agricultural practices, ensure fair compensation to farmers, and address infrastructural challenges associated with sugarcane farming.
During a meeting that included the county assembly leadership and West Sugar’s management led by Sangaiah Ramar, Governor Natembeya emphasized the need for a balanced partnership. He called for a working Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that ensures the company supports road maintenance and corporate social responsibility initiatives while addressing concerns over sugarcane farming’s negative impact on soil fertility and infrastructure.
One of the key concerns raised during the meeting was the damage to roads caused by trucks transporting sugarcane to the factory. The county has been spending over Ksh. 400 million annually on road maintenance, largely due to the wear and tear caused by these heavy vehicles.
Natembeya stressed the importance of transparency in the company’s revenue remittance to the county. He noted that West Sugar’s reported income, estimated at more than Ksh. 1.1 billion annually, does not reflect the contributions made to the county government. “The committee to be formed should ensure that we get everything in place and create a win-win situation; otherwise, things are not right as far as sugarcane farming is concerned in Trans Nzoia,” he said.
The proposed MOU is expected to include provisions for the company to contribute to road maintenance levies, thereby reducing the county’s financial burden, and to engage in more corporate social responsibility projects aimed at benefiting the local community.
The meeting was attended by several Members of County Assembly (MCAs) and county officials, including Furaha Lusweti (Waitaluk), Andrew Kutitila (Sikhendu), Joshua Amwayi (Kiminini), Simon Murey (Sitatunga), Kisiang’ani Wambwa (Machewa), Francis Were (Tuwan), Erick Wafula (Hospital), and Alfred Weswa (Sirende). Also present were Roads CECM Jackson Amboka, Chief Officer Joseph Wasike, and Finance counterpart Emmanuel Masungo, among others.
As the county prepares to formalize the agreement, Governor Natembeya’s administration hopes the partnership will address the challenges faced by sugarcane farmers, improve infrastructure, and enhance the county’s revenue collection systems.
