We will fight Uganda sugar like illicit brew – MP

Nyando Member of Parliament Fred Outa has threatened to mobilise the public to apply tactics used in the fight against illicit brew to deal with imported sugar if the deal with Uganda is not cancelled.

Speaking during a campaign trail for the North Ugenya Ward ODM candidate Shaban Omar in Ugenya constituency, Outa said they will be forced to invade any stores where Uganda sugar will be kept and distribute it for free to women if the deal is implemented.

On his part, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Chairman John Mbadi maintained that the agreement to allow the cheap sugar from Uganda into the country is sour deal that would kill the country’s sugar industry.

Mbadi accused President Kenyatta of using Kenya for his personal gains lamenting that the Western Kenya region has suffered because of unscrupulous people who have been importing sugar illegally through Uganda.

He said that the deal will give cartels a blank check to go on with the illegal trade hence the need to revoke it.

Siaya Senator James Orengo said the decision by President Kenyatta to sign the agreement with his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni was a great injustice to Kenya and demanded to know between the president and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, who is telling the truth about the deal.

Orengo accused the President of taking Kenyan jobs and money to Uganda, saying there is no way the Cabinet Secretary can deny the signing of that pact when Kenyatta himself had already admitted to have signed it.

The remarks were in relation to CS Amina Mohamed’s recent denial of any sugar deal between the Kenyan and Ugandan governments clarifying that the deals was a collective one between Chambers of Commerce from the two countries.

Other legislators present at the rally include MPs David Ochieng’ (Ugenya) and his Rarieda counterpart Nicholas Gumbo together with a host of Siaya MCAs.

Report by George Amolo