The root cause of their problems is the craving to buy them at a throw away price.
Mumias is targeted with MaDvD using his consigliere to run it down. He and others with interests in another sugar company (private) then hope to seize Mumias. Left on its own, Mumias would do very well.
I am not even sure why they just can't buy it off the stock market. But of course when it is unable to buy cane Butali and West Kenya end up buying it at sinful prices.
Some of the things that take place over there are just sickening. Can you imagine you have to BRIBE someone for your cane to be cut? If not you will see it rot on your farm as they will not accept your own truck to bring it inside the factory. Everybody is trying to make money.
Farmers are tied up in lopsided contracts that cannot allow them to sell the cane to other factories even if Mumias is unable to collect! Then there is the marketing. They say they cant sell. But give me a truck of Mumias sugar on a truck. By the time I reach Kapsabet, I would be going to Bank because I would have sold it all - may be to one person. Their stuff is so popular nobody buys the "sand" from Sony and Nzoia while there is Mumias.
Ameyo cannot manage anything. He is MaDvDs lap dog sent to wreck Mumias.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2000211207/success-of-private-sugar-mills-in-kenya-put-pressure-on-struggling-public-firms