Mumias East Member of Parliament, Peter Salasya, was compelled to retreat on Monday after police lobbed tear gas to disperse him and his constituents protesting against the poor management at Mumias Sugar Company.
The flamboyant legislator had joined his constituents outside the company's headquarters to demand better conditions for farmers, even as the company continues to experience financial challenges, resulting in significant delays in processing payment for cane deliveries, some exceeding 5 years.
As the situation threatened to escalate, the police officers resorted to using tear gas to disperse the growing, unruly crowd. Officers were also seen patrolling the area to maintain order.
The MP called upon the government to resolve the issues surrounding the sugar factory and reclaim its former glories. This he said, was urgent especially since the price of the additive has continued to spike, exceeding the Ksh500 mark recently.
The protesting residents lamented over what they described as artificial disputes manufactured by politicians that have culminated in harmful on-and-off court cases that pose a danger to the company's future.
The MP questioned why the courts have blocked investors from taking over the company saying the ruling has adversely affected operations at the sugar miller in a negative way.
"Why are the courts stopping this investor from doing his work? Why are they listening to people who do not understand the issues ailing the company?" the MP questioned.
Salasya further pointed out that Kenya is losing a lot of potential revenue due to the factory's closure
He also warned Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa against interfering with the court case. Salasya suggested that Barasa should involve all the stakeholders if he is serious about reviving the company.
"The only way to resolve this issue is to withdraw all the court cases and start operations at the company," he added.
On August 5, Governor Barasa emphasised that his main focus was reviving the sugar company through cooperation with other leaders.
"My goal is to ensure their resurgence (sugar millers) and most importantly, to benefit the local communities," Barasa assured.
