By Tony Wafula
Business and daily activities along the Bungoma–Webuye Road and at the Nzoia Sugar Company were brought to a standstill on Monday, as sugarcane farmers, local residents, and political leaders clashed with police officers in a series of running battles opposing the planned leasing of Nzoia Sugar Company for 30 years.
The protests, which erupted around midday and continued until 3 p.m., turned chaotic after a prolonged standoff between demonstrators and law enforcement.
Inset: Police officers clash with demonstrators in running battles. /TONY WAFULA
Tensions escalated after a group of leaders, including Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, DAP-K Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa, former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, former Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi, lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, and Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga, addressed protesters at Bukembe market and attempted to march to the miller’s premises.
However, police intercepted the politicians’ convoy, along with hundreds of their supporters, at Sudi area, just a few kilometres from the factory.
In response, agitated youths began pelting officers with stones, prompting the police to fire tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
The confrontations lasted nearly four hours, with police eventually dispersing the demonstrators and pushing the political leaders out of the town and away from the factory.
Despite the heavy police presence, the leaders vowed to block businessman Jaswant Singh Rai of the Rai Group, who won the tender, from taking over the running of Nzoia Sugar Company.
They accused President William Ruto’s administration of plotting to sell off the factory, thereby crippling the region’s economy.
“We will not allow anyone to be imposed on us, and Rai will not be allowed to take over our factory by force. We refuse to let anyone destroy and sell our property,” said Governor Natembeya.
He added, “We are safeguarding our assets and will not be intimidated. They already destroyed Panpaper, and now they want to finish off our only remaining sugar factory. If we must die to protect the future of our children, then so be it.”
Natembeya went further to claim that if any institution deserves leasing, it is the government itself, not Nzoia Sugar.
The Governor was later escorted by police from Bukembe to Webuye, under instruction not to address bystanders.
Former Senator Malala accused National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula of betraying the community by allegedly auctioning off their ancestral assets.
“We demand that the government respect the court order halting the leasing process. The same dubious methods used to sell Panpaper are now being applied to Nzoia,” Malala said.
He continued, “The individual auctioning off our land and assets is our very own Speaker. We must stand together to protect what rightfully belongs to our community.”
DAP-K Leader Eugene Wamalwa alleged a clandestine scheme to offload Nzoia Sugar Company through a non-transparent process.
“The government must obey the law. If Mr Rai cannot respect court orders, we declare him persona non grata. No one will be allowed to set foot in the factory until we rescue Nzoia from those attempting to grab our land and assets,” said Wamalwa.
Former MP Wafula Wamunyinyi pledged to rally leaders to hold peaceful protests daily in a bid to stop the sale of the miller.
“We shall not be cowed by the number of police officers deployed. We will resist any attempt by the government to sell our factory through impunity. If it means holding daily peaceful demonstrations, we are ready,” said Wamunyinyi.
Businessman Zacharia Barasa, who has led court battles against the proposed lease, warned against allowing Rai Group to take over.
“Rai has no genuine intention of reviving the factory. If allowed, he will divert sugarcane to his West Kenya Sugar Company, leading to Nzoia’s eventual collapse. We cannot let him destroy Nzoia,” said Barasa.
