Nipate
Forum => Kenya Discussion => Topic started by: Omollo on December 19, 2016, 10:16:47 AM
-
He refuses to grant the same favors he dished out to Kikuyu farmers recently.
Note that the Kikuyu farmers took loans from private banks (http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/11/29/uhuru-writes-off-sh2bn-coffee-debt-owed-to-financial-institutions_c1464573). Uhuru used tax payers funds to clear those loans fully.
Sugarcane farmers were left with a bitter taste in the mouth after President Uhuru Kenyatta rejected their calls to have Sh3.5 billion sugar debts written off.
The farmers, through Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers, had petitioned the President to consider waiving the debts owed to the State by out grower companies they belong to.
They argued that just like coffee farmers whose Sh2 billion debts were written off by President Kenyatta, sugar debts must be looked into to help empower farmers.
OUT OF BUSINESS
The President did not to talk about the issue during his two-day tour of the region, but underscored the Government’s commitment to revamp Mumias Sugar Company.
He said the Government has so far injected close to Sh3 billion in the struggling sugar firm.
Local leaders led by Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali had urged the President to look into the farmers’ plight and have the debts waived.
According to Mr Washiali, the huge debts had pushed most farmers out of business.
“Farmers are overburdened by the debts. They have to be waived to help the growers back on their feet again,” said the legislator.
The federation deputy secretary general Simon Wesechere said they were surprised President Uhuru ignored the farmers’ plight.
“We expected him not to think twice about our request because these debts have left farmers poor making it impossible for them to develop sugarcane,” he told The Standard in a telephone interview yesterday.
Coffee farmers from Bungoma had also demanded to have their debts written off but their wish was not granted.
According to Wesechere, the debts include funds lend to the outgrower firms including moribund Mumias Outgrowers Company, Busia Outgrowers Company and Nzoia Outgrowers Company among others.
He said the debts are borne by the farmers who are compelled to service the loan through cane production.
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/mobile/article/2000227294/uhuru-rejects-calls-to-waive-cane-debt
By JOSEPH MURAYA, NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 29- The government has written off Sh2 billion coffee debts, in a move likely to boost the sector that has been characterised by poor pay and other challenges for farmers.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has made the announcement while he kicked off his development tour in Kirinyaga County, where he is also marketing the newly formed Jubilee Party.
“Now that we have now written off all the past coffee debts, we want farmers to head back to their lands and do the farming. In 2012, we promised to write off all the debts during a major coffee meeting here at Kerugoya Stadium, I’m proud to be back and honour the promise.”
Coffee farming is largely practiced in the Mount Kenya region, but has seen a major setback in the past a few years due to the debts.
President Kenyatta who is accompanied by area leaders among them Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua has urged farmers to collect title deeds they had offered as security.
The two-day tour has not only seen several projects launched in the area largely seen as a Jubilee stronghold but the President has used it to dismiss the opposition, saying its agenda was only to resist Jubilee’s major projects
-
http://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/smartcompany/Cheap-imports--high-costs--Why-many-businesses-are-closing-shop/1226-3491388-52x5q4z/index.html
business climate is not conducive to growth. These businesses were naurtured under Kibaki but destroyed by corruption under Uhuru. Money meant for govt services is funneled into peoples pockets leaving basic infrastructure struggling. Its very expensive to transport goods when you sit in traffic the whole day by the time perishables gets to market its thrown away.
-
http://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/smartcompany/Cheap-imports--high-costs--Why-many-businesses-are-closing-shop/1226-3491388-52x5q4z/index.html
business climate is not conducive to growth. These businesses were naurtured under Kibaki but destroyed by corruption under Uhuru. Money meant for govt services is funneled into peoples pockets leaving basic infrastructure struggling. Its very expensive to transport goods when you sit in traffic the whole day by the time perishables gets to market its thrown away.
That may be true. But why does Uhuru cancel the debts of one group and not another. Is there a structural reason that explains these different outcomes or is it just tribalism? I am genuinely curious.
-
Uhuru is not being objective regarding his criteria for canceling debt. He should have cancelled all agri debt, not just coffee.