Nyong’o refutes reports of disagreement with Raila
Kisumu governor Anyang Nyong’o has dismissed reports of a political fallout with his party leader, Raila Odinga, over the controversial leasing of state-owned sugar factories, calling the claims misleading and inaccurate.
In a public statement issued Friday, May 9, 2025, Nyong’o reaffirmed his alignment with Raila on the matter, underscoring their shared position that any leasing of public sugar mills must be conducted transparently and with full public participation.
“Recent media reports have created a false impression that the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga and I are at odds over the leasing of sugar factories. This is not the case. We are fully aligned on this issue.
“Our shared position is clear: the government must exit the management of these factories and instead lease them to private investors through a competitive and transparent process,” Nyong’o wrote on Facebook.
The remarks came amid mounting tension following Nyong’o’s strongly worded critique earlier in the week of the national government’s plans to lease out Chemelil and Muhoroni sugar factories – two major state-owned mills located in Kisumu County.
In a statement released Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the Kisumu governor accused the national government of sidestepping local stakeholders and fast-tracking the lease process under a cloak of secrecy.
He claimed that Chemelil was set to be handed to Kibos Sugar & Allied Industries Ltd, while Muhoroni was to be leased to West Valley Sugar Company, both for a 30-year period.
Nyong’o also raised alarm over a separate land transfer involving Miwani Sugar Mills, whose prime nucleus estate is the subject of ongoing litigation.
He described the move as criminal activity, accusing the national government of attempting to quietly hand the land over to Crossley Holdings Limited.
“These arrangements are not only opaque but fundamentally unjust. They threaten the livelihoods of more than 60,000 farmers and affect public land hosting schools, churches, mosques, and vital infrastructure,” he said.
Despite his fiery rhetoric, Nyong’o sought to clarify that his statements were not a repudiation of his party leader, Raila, who remains a key political figure in western Kenya’s sugar belt.
Instead, Nyong’o portrayed their stance as united in opposing what they see as an unconstitutional and exploitative leasing process.
“The government must exit the management of these factories and lease them to private investors only through a competitive and transparent process,” he stated.
Nyong’o, a long-time ally of Raila, has been an outspoken critic of President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration, particularly on issues affecting devolution and county autonomy.
He reiterated that agriculture is a devolved function and warned that bypassing county governments in such decisions is a violation of constitutional principles.
“The 30-year leases will disenfranchise local farmers, robbing them of land and economic autonomy. This is unconstitutional and violates Articles 10, 11, 60, and 62,” he said.
Nyong’o’s position aligns with rising public frustration in the sugar-producing regions, where decades of mismanagement and corruption have crippled the industry, leaving farmers burdened by unpaid dues and decaying infrastructure.
In response to the mounting backlash, President Ruto recently defended the leasing strategy during a tour in Migori, arguing that it would rescue a floundering industry and ensure timely payments to cane growers. He blamed past leadership and illegal activities for the sector’s collapse.
But critics, including Nyong’o, have accused the administration of pushing through deals without transparency and without addressing the broader socioeconomic impact on affected communities.
The Kisumu governor called for an immediate halt to the lease process and urged civic groups, county assemblies, and the public to mobilise in resistance.
“We must broaden civil society participation, conduct public rallies, and ensure a transparent, inclusive process,” he said.
As the row intensifies, the future of West Kenya’s sugar industry and the land and livelihoods tied to it remain uncertain, caught between promises of revival and fears of exploitation.
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Martin Oduor
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