Ruto’s ‘Hammer’ Warning: President Takes Aim at Those Blocking Kenya Sugar Board
President William Ruto has let it be known he’ll be taking action against persons he claims are causing problems for the Kenya Sugar Board, as a result of which about Sh4 billion collected through the sugar levy is going unspent.
He made the warning during the Agriculture and Food Security Presidential Town Hall at Jamhuri Park in Nairobi on Thursday, addressing the challenges Kenya’s sugar industry is facing.
The President said the money collected from the sugar levy was meant to be spent on projects to support sugarcane farmers, like sorting out their roads, developing and giving them better seed cane, and funding research into new, better sugarcane varieties.
Ruto Threatens ‘Hammer’ Action Over Sugar Board Dispute
Ruto said the ongoing squabbles surrounding the Kenya Sugar Board are stopping the government putting the levy funds to good use.
The President said : “Weve brought in about Sh4 billion from the sugar levy to make sure we have roads we can drive on, develop & give out seed cane & make sure that there’s research done on better cane varieties so we can develop”
The money was intended to help sort out some of the issues facing sugarcane farmers and generally improve things across the industry.
Ruto however says the money has just been sitting there collecting dust because of a disagreement involving people he claimed had been booted out of the sugar sector.
Why Sh4 Billion Sugar Levy Funds Remain Unused
According to Ruto, the money was specifically collected to help the sugar industry grow
He pointed out that wanting better roads in sugarcane-growing areas, seed cane development and distribution, and general research and development of the industry as the kind of things that should be benefiting.
Incidentally the government has also said its whole sugar sector funding plan includes investments in cane development, roads, research and factory rehabilitation among other things. Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe announced just last year that the government would be putting Sh4 billion a year into the sector starting in 2025, with 40% of that going towards cane development and some of the rest going towards other things.
Rutos comments however were specifically about the money thatve been collected & can’t be used because of the current board dispute
Ruto Accuses Former Sugar Sector Players of Regrouping
The President told the country that the people he had previously pushed out of the sugar industry have got together again and are taking their beef over the Kenya Sugar Board all the way to court.
‘Unfortunately we havent been able to touch that cash because the characters i managed to turf out have gone and got themselves all grouped up again, ‘ he said.
Ruto didnt bother to name any names, no surprises there.
He claimed these people are using the courts to try and block efforts to get a decent board in place that can actually oversee how the money from the sugar levy gets spent.
Ruto Says Sugar Industry Is Being Held Hostage
The President gave the people he was talking about a piece of his mind – but wont say who they are.
‘Listen up you trouble-makers, these are the three ring leaders and I want to say again, I know them, I know who they are and Im pretty sure they are listening to me right now, ‘ he said.
Ruto also had a word for all those trying to bring the Kenya Sugar Board to its knees in court.
‘You lot whove gone to court trying to tear the Kenya Sugar Board apart, listen up, you cant just hold the whole industry to ransom for your own selfish reasons.’
The President said farmers should have a say in who represents them on the board, that way, the people who actually work in the industry can decide how the levy cash gets spent.
He said, if farmers get to vote for their own board reps, these reps will then be able to sort out how the cash gets used to help out the industry.
Ruto’s ‘Nyundo’ Warning
Eventually Ruto pulls out the big guns, warning that he’s now got his finger on the trigger and is ready to intervene in that dispute.
“So just give me a little bit of space and I’ll go find me a hammer because honestly Kenya’s got a lot of people who don’t understand some of the language involved here, let me deal with them myself and then we’ll have a functioning board , because they know themselves and I know they do too,” he said at the time.
The phrase “will go find me a hammer” was used by the President in his warning to those he put the blame on for holding back the formation and operation of the board.
Ruto didn’t specify just what he was going to do to those he accused of causing the delay.
What Is the Sugar Development Levy?
The sugar development levy is a funding system that’s meant to give the sugar industry in Kenya a steady supply of cash to build itself up.
The law that sets up the levy also sets up the Kenya Sugar Board, which has a job to do in regulating and promoting the sugar sector. The levy is there to help out areas like building new factory development and roads, doing research, training for farmers and sugarcane farmers and building some much needed infrastructure.
For 2025 the government said its going to put in Sh4 billion of new money each year in the sector. That’s coming from the levy and includes Sh2 billion just for sugarcane development, plus Sh600 million each for road work and research and factory repairs.
How the Sugar Board Dispute Could Affect Farmers
The problem over the board has farmers getting worried about how quickly they can get their hands on the cash they’re due from the levy.
Ruto’s argument was that the delay in getting the board up and running is keeping the help targeted at roads, seed cane and research from getting out the door.
For the guys growing sugarcane, these factors can affect their production costs, how easy it is to get the good quality materials and even the movement of their cane from the farm to the factory.
The government is also pushing forward with some bigger changes to the sector, including private investors shelling out Sh12.29 billion in cash to four of the state-owned sugar factories. Plus the Kenya Sugar Board’s also collecting concession fees and using the money it gets to reinvest in the sector.
The President’s warning is coming at a time when the government’s been pushing forward with efforts to rework the sugar industry in Kenya.
What Happens Next in the Kenya Sugar Board Dispute?
It looks like Ruto’s remarks are saying the government’s pushing on ahead to sort out the mess and get the board up and running somehow.
The President’s still saying that the farmers need a say on the board and that the levy money should be going toward helping out the sugar industry. He didn’t name the people involved and the exact reasons for the delay will have to be sorted out in court.
For now the Sh4 billion levy and the future of the Kenya Sugar Board are right in the middle of all the government’s efforts to sort out the sugar sector.
ALSO READ : “Ebola Should Not Become a Democratic Emergency”: Muturi’s Warning to Duale
Ruto’s ‘Hammer’ Warning: President Takes Aim at Those Blocking Kenya Sugar Board
