President William Ruto has slammed Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for questioning the source of funds used to pay bonuses to farmers supplying cane to Mumias Sugar Factory in Kakamega County.
On January 21, 2025, Ruto presided over a ceremony awarding a Ksh150 million bonus to farmers supplying sugarcane to Mumias Sugar Company Limited.
Each cane farmer received the bonus based on the quantity supplied since Mumias Sugar Factory, which had ceased operations for years, has roared back to life.
The awarding of bonuses to farmers supplying Mumias Sugar drew criticism from Kalonzo and other opposition factions.
Speaking on Thursday, January 23, during his ongoing tour of Western Kenya, President Ruto hit back at those criticizing him over the Mumias Sugar bonus scheme.
He praised his intervention in resuscitating Mumias Sugar.
“Juzi jumatatu nlikuja pale Mumias mahali ambayo imekua kisirani miaka yote. Na nlikuja pale mwaka moja iliyopita nkasema ntanyorosha maneno ya Mumias. Nkawaambia wale matapeli na wakora walikua wanatusumbua pale mambo yao ni matatu. Wale wakora wametoroka tumenyorosha Mumias.
“Na nilisema mambo matatu itafanyika. Number one nilisema tutaweka usimamizi ambayo utalipa wakulima, ambao utalipa wafanyikazi na tutalipa pia bonus,” Ruto said.
The head of state affirmed that sugarcane farmers are also Kenyan citizens and asserted that with proper management, farmers can be paid by their respective companies without government involvement.
“Juzi tumekuja kulipa bonus ya mara ya kwanza tangu Kenya iundwe kwa wakulima wa miwa. Sasa mimi nashangaa ati kuna viongozi ati mbona serikali imesaidia kampuni ya Mumias mbaka imelipa bonus wakulima wa miwa. Kwani mkulima wa miwa si Mkenya?” Ruto stated.
The president addressed those who questioned where the money for the bonus came from, stating that the funds came from the same source as those for tea and coffee farmers who also receive bonuses.
“Mkulima wa kahawa analipwa bonus, mkulima wa chai analipwa bonus. Ati mkulima wa miwa akilipwa bonus ati watu wanaanza kuuliza maswali. Hawa watu wametembelewa na shetani. Na tuwaambie washindwe kabisa.
“Ati wanauliza ati rais ametoa wapi pesa ya kulipa bonus wakulima wa miwa. Kwani wale wanalipa wakulima wa chai bonus yao inatoka wapi? Na wale wanalipwa maneno ya bonus ya kahawa pesa yao inatoka wapi? Mahali pesa ya kahawa inatoka, mahali pesa ya chai inatoka ndiyo pesa ya miwa inatoka. Ndio wakulima wote wakue sawa,” Ruto said.
Ruto slams Kalonzo
Addressing Kalonzo, Ruto questioned his sanity in questioning the Mumias Sugar bonus and insisted that the company, not the government, paid the bonuses.
“So ule mtu wa katikati sijui watermelon ati anauliza maswali hio, kichwa yake ni mzuri kweli mukipima? Ati anapinga ati ‘ohh huyu mtu ametoa wapi pesa ya kulipaa…’
“Mimi nataka niambie huyu mtu wa watermelon, nimuambie mambo ikisimamiwa vizuri, mimi ilipromise tutaweka usimamizi sawa sawa. Mkulima analipwa, halipwi na serikali, wafanyikazi wanalipwa, hawalipwi na serikali, bonus imelipwa haijalipwa na serikali, inalipwa na kampuni because we have put proper management,” Ruto retorted.
