Workers at Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma County as pictured on November 13, 2018.
What you need to know:
Cane farmers contracted by Nzoia Sugar Company have vowed to remove Managing Director Michael Wanjala for failing to pay them.
The farmers say they have failed to meet their parental obligations as a result of lack of pay.
"The company harvested our cane in June 2020 but there has been no communication on when it will release our cash. We are dismayed by his behaviour and our efforts to get his comment have failed," said their leader Kennedy Kibeti.
"The MD is always running away from farmers despite pledging to release their cash on time. He should be kicked out.”
He added that they will launch the “mother of all demonstrations” to force him out of office.
"We need our money. We cannot have our cane harvested without returns. We need to pay school fees and meet other family obligations yet the MD is not picking our calls and doesn't want to meet us.”
No communication
His sentiments were echoed by Mrs Emily Mulongo whose cane was harvested in July.
"I depend on cane for survival. Let the MD and the rest of the management team work on paying us. I am going through hell," she said.
Ms Mulongo noted that Mr Wanjala promised to release their cash on a timely basis soon after cane crushing.
"He has gone silent. We no longer hear from him.”
Farmer Chrispinus Pepela said he is yet to receive payment for cane delivered in 2017.
"The government released cash for payment of farmers but our visits to banks have not yielded fruit. We find empty accounts," he said.
"We are going to stage demonstrations until he talks to us. We don't hear about appointments when we want to express our dissatisfaction with him.”
MD’s plea
Mr Wanjala was appointed MD in July 2019.
Contacted, he blamed the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), saying it deducted Sh20 million from the company’s account.
"I am not to blame. KRA took all the money meant for farmers’ payment. They deducted it directly from the account without any explanations. I’m struggling to see how my farmers will be paid their dues,” he said and asked them to persevere.
He asked those planning demonstrations to proceed because the right to picket is enshrined in the Constitution.
The government intends to privatise Nzoia and four other sugar millers over failure to sustain themselves, which has resulted in huge debts.
The others are Muhoroni, Chemelil, Miwani and Sony.
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