Leo Odera Omolo,

                                                                            KISUMU 22^nd Nov, 2006

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A Cartel of wealthy sugar cane farmers from Chemase area of  South Nandi district who were recently named by their fellow farmers to represent them in the on-going dispute between the farmers and the management of the Chemelil Sugar Company   are alleged to have been compromised with hefty rewards.

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The Nyando based sugar company is currently involved in serious dispute with sixteen (16) primary farmers co-operative societies in South Nandi district which had previously resolved to petition the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission(KACC) to investigate cases of fraudulent accounting and corruption, which are allegedly rampant within the sugar processing firm.

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The top farmers involved in the alleged scam are Elisha Koross a former civic leader in Chemase area. The management of Chemelil Sugar Company, it is being alleged to have agreed to develop his 21 acres sugar cane farm free of charge. The estimate cost of such development, according to the source would cost the company a loss of Kshs 1.2 million.

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Julius Kogo another farmer is alleged to have been rewarded with being appointed to the Boards of Directors representing Nandi Cane farmers at the Chemelil Sugar Company and also allegedly received 100 bags of fertilizers plus two tones of Molasses weekly free of charge.

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Another prominent cane farmer who benefited from the hefty reward to forestall him further from agitating for the cause of his fellow farmers is Mr. Benjamin Tai. The company is said to have agreed to develop 3000 acres of his close to 10, 000 acres farm in Chemase area, which he is said to have acquired fraudulent after evicting the previous land owners in unorthodox manner in the late 1970s.

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Also allegedly in the list of shame is Mt. Tom Choge who is said to have benefited from a loan guaranteed by the Chemelil Sugar Company to enable him purchase a brand new tractor worth Kshs 2 million.

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Mr. Tai it is being alleged to have grabbed a commercial plot on Nandi Chemrase No 851 which was set aside for the rural electrification programme. The sugar cane which is being developed by the Chemelil Sugar Company for this farmers on Nandi /Chemase  No 850.

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Also involved in the scam is Mr. Charles Tanui, the brother of Mr. Tai who is also a former long serving chairman of the Nandi Country Council whose plots are said to have been developed free of charge. The cartel is said to be acting as loyal informers of the Chemelil MD Prof. Julius Omondi Nyabundi whose tenure at the multimillion shillings sugar complex situated in Nyando district has been dogged with claims and allegations of massive corruption, mismanagement and lack of accountability and transparency is a besieged man but other sources have confided to us that is very close to Kipruto Arap Kirwa The Agriculture minister.

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The leading farmers whose names are mentioned above were among a group of Nandi farmers who in June this year visited the Minister for Agriculture Kipruto Arap Kirwa and demanded that the Chemelil Sugar MD be fired immediately for mismanagement of the facility..

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When the Minister visited Kimwani ADC farm located in Kimwani Songhor in October, the same farmers were the most outspoken group that pressed them Minister to remove the MD with immediate effect.

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And during a terse meeting held a month ago on the Chemelil Miwani road during which the Chemelil Sugar Company MD attended while under the protection of the two D.Cs, O.C.P.Ds, DOs and security team the four were chosen to represent the farmers cases to the management of the sugar company.

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The allegations against these  farmers has elicited a lot of controversy among the ordinary members of the primary societies who are now up in arms demanding for the immediate sacking of the Chemelil Sugar Company MD.They want the allegations investigated by KACC.

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During this recent tour of  South Nandi district, Minister Kirwa was given a two month ultimatum to remove Prof Nyabundi out of Chemelil Sugar Company or else Nandi farmers will stop delivering their cane to the facility. The  firm is said to be on the verge of the total collapse with the reports unconfirm reports that it has been issuing cane farmers with bouncing cheques in the recent past.

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Confronted by this writer to comment on the going at Chemelil Sugar Company, Mr. Charles Tanui who is one of the alleged compromised leaders of the farming community only heaped a lot of praise saying the MD was doing a good job.

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  ENDS
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

The writer is LUOCOME REPORTER based in Kisumu. We urge all LUOCOME members with pressing issues pertaining to media and press releases to kindly contact him from any where in world. He will assist you to get true picture of your Village Developement.
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