By Jabali Media
Kisumu governor Anyang’ Nyong’o is ‘up in arms’ against water he terms as ‘opaque’ leasing of sugar millers in the county.
Addressing the press at the Mama Grae Onyango Social Centre on Wednesday, Nyong’o said he is dismayed to learn that the planned leasing of Chemelil Sugar Factory and Muhoroni Sugar Factory has been fast-tracked, and finalized.
The leasing process, he stated, happened with no proper stakeholder involvement and under a cloak of secrecy.
“Chemelil Sugar Factory is to be leased to Kibos Sugar & Allied Industries Limited, a company only 16 years old for a period of 30 years. Muhoroni Sugar Company is to be leased to the West Valley Sugar Company, barely 5 years old for 30 years,” said the governor.
Further, Nyong’o said the prime nucleus land of Miwani Sugar Mills is “being transferred through opaque arrangements to Crossley Holdings Limited, despite ongoing court litigation.”
He termed the leasing and transfer of land as daylight robbery, an economic coup against over 60,000 farmers, involving 15,000 hectares of farmland, essential public offices, churches, mosques, homes, and renowned learning institutions such as Chemelil Factory Primary, Muhoroni Primary, and Miwani Estate Primary School.
“We firmly oppose this opaque lease plan, which ignores the social fabric, existing infrastructure, and public interests in sugar belt sub-counties—Muhoroni, Kisumu East, and Nyando. The plan threatens to dismantle community livelihoods and invites monopolistic exploitation,” added the county boss.
The governor demands an immediate halt to the leasing process, adding that legal action under certificate of urgency must be instituted to suspend the leases until all legal breaches are addressed.
“The County may support farmers’ groups in this effort,” he added.
He called for broadening civil society participation, conducting public rallies, and ensuring a transparent, inclusive process—aligned with past public memoranda submitted to the privatization Commission.
“We urge the residents of Kisumu County to stand firm. We must reject this scheme that ignores the voices of those most affected farmers, workers, and communities. This ill-conceived leasing agenda is not just illegal; it is a threat to land rights, community cohesion, and the future of the sugar industry in Kisumu.”
Nyong’o challenged the Kisumu County Assembly to lead a people-powered resistance against this attack on devolved authority, and local livelihoods.