INDIA ENGINEERS LINKED TO DELAY OF CHEMELIL SUGAR RE-OPENING

Feb 03, 2015 Editor Kisumu News News 0

Picture Courtesy of Business Daily Africa

Cane farmers and suppliers in Chemelil zone have appealed to Agriculture CS Felix Koskei and the Chemelil Sugar factory management to speed up its processes to allow the factory to start crushing sugar cane.

The factory has not been crashing sugar cane awaiting installation of a new Turbine Alternator which was meant to enhance Chemelil Sugar Company’s effectiveness in producing power.

Agriculture Cabionet Secretary Felix Koskei visited the factory early January where he said the Kshs. 105M turbine alternator would be fixed in two weeks for the company to restart operations.

However, farmers and suppliers led by former Director of Kenya Sugar Board Director Joseph Bonyo are now worried since the Engineers from India who were to fix it have not arrived.

Bonyo who is also the Chairman of Chemelil Out-growers Company said they are running out of patience adding that farmers are suffering and their livelihood are at stake.

Bonyo says the CS had promised Chemilil Sugar that they would start crashing cane after two weeks adding that the period had elapsed with no communication of any future developments.

Bonyo has appealed to local leaders led by the area MP for Muhoroni Onyango Koyoo to intervene and help save the thousands of lives that rely on Chemelil Sugar Factory.

Speaking to Kisumu News Bonyo said they are reading malice and sabotage into the delay of the installation of the machine.

The factory’s Managing Director Charles Owele said the commissioning of the turbine would avail 3MW (Megawatts) of electricity to the factory and enable the company save a Kshs. 12 million monthly power bill currently incurred from Kenya Power.

• Chemelil Sugar Company, Kenya Power, Turbine Alternator