NAIROBI, Kenya – A sugarcane bonus payout in Kenya’s Western region has ignited a fiery political debate, with leaders rallying to defend the initiative against criticism from Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
The bonus, part of President William Ruto’s effort to revive the struggling sugar sector, has drawn accusations from Kalonzo, who claims it’s a ploy to curry favor with the region.
During a development tour of Busia County, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula led a strong defense, condemning Kalonzo’s remarks as misinformed and dismissive of farmers’ struggles.
The President then launched the Last Mile Electricity Connectivity project in Nambale and Teso South constituencies in Busia County. During the visit, I challenged former Vice President Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka’s criticisms of the government’s decision to assist sugarcane farmers. I…
“Kalonzo’s outbursts on cane bonuses are misplaced,” Wetang’ula said while addressing a gathering at Kinjavi Market in Nambale. “Why question support for cane farmers when tea and coffee farmers also receive bonuses?”
The Speaker accused Kalonzo of promoting divisive politics instead of supporting government efforts to uplift cane growers in the region.
President William Ruto echoed similar sentiments, challenging critics to explain why sugarcane bonuses should face more scrutiny than payouts in other agricultural sectors.
“Bonuses for tea, coffee, and sugarcane all come from the same source,” Ruto stated.
Leaders from the region emphasized the critical role of bonuses in breathing new life into the ailing sugar industry, which has suffered from years of mismanagement and factory closures.
“Cane farmers have endured untold hardship due to the sector’s collapse. Now, we have a president determined to turn things around,” said Busia Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma.
Otuoma added that farmers in Busia were among the biggest beneficiaries of the Ksh150 million bonus disbursed at Mumias Sugar Company last week.
Meanwhile, Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya accused Kalonzo of lacking knowledge about the cane industry and criticized him for dismissing efforts to revitalize it.
In addition to the sugarcane bonus rollout, President Ruto inspected several key development projects in Busia County.
Despite criticism from opposition figures like Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, who questioned the bonus’s source of funding, the government’s efforts were widely lauded by local leaders and farmers alike.
