LREB GOVERNORS WELCOME SUGAR TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS

Governors in the 14 member Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) have accepted the recommendations by the National Sugar Task Force Committee Report presented to President Uhuru Kenyatta in February 2020.

The Sugar Taskforce Committee co-chaired by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya and Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya recommended a re-introduction of the sugar levy, privatisation of public sugar mills, strict compliance with the COMESA regulations and gazettment of the sugar sector regulations among others.

In a statement read by Kisumu County Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o in the presence of his host Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya at Kakamega County headquarters, Wednesday afternoon, the governors said the process of leasing the companies should be left open and consultative to ensure quality of the bids.

The statement also highlighted the importance of constituting a committee comprising of the County and National Government to oversee the leasing process to guarantee legitimacy.

“The expression of interest on leasing of the state owned companies should therefore be suspended until the parties agree on the consultative process,” Prof. Nyong’o said.

President Kenyatta assured that the Government will implement the recommendations of the sugar Taskforce as part of the ongoing efforts to revive the sector. The report was also adopted by the National Government Cabinet.

The consultative meeting was also attended by Kakamega deputy governor H.E. Prof. Philip Museve Kutima, his Bungoma counterpart H.E. Charles Ngome as well as Mr. Abala Wanga the CEO LREB.