NO END TO WOES IN RAILA'S MOLASES PLANT

  BY SHEM KOSSE.

  As much as the luo political kingpin Hon Raila Amolo Odinga is ever ready to
summon a colourful press conference to ward off the critics across the political
divide who dare question how the Odinga's acquired the over 240 acres of land occupied by the plant, there is no end to scandals affecting it.
 
  When it comes to Kogony and Korando local grievances towards the plant's job recruitment policies which they feel mercilessly short changes them, Odinga
repeatedly argues he is not a board member of the Specter International. This
argument  is not holding water anymore. Tension between the natives and
management is increasingly building  up and is soon reaching its fever pitch.
 
  Leaflets exhibiting the epitome of the locals' disgruntlements towards the
management of the controversy ridden molasses plant flooded all the streets of
the lakeside city of Kisumu and its outskirts, with the plant's Human Resource
Director who is also in charge of procurement Mr. Israel Agina still under the
spotlight.
 
  The strongly worded leaflet which was precise and to the point and bearing
ultimatum, drove the natives' message home: ''We Kogony and Korando people have vowed to storm molasses plant within one week if our demands are not addressed by the management!" reads the leaflets in parts.
 
  Continuing: ''we strongly feel short changed by the plant management in that
even casual jobs where we should be the main beneficiaries, we are forced to
bribe our ways in order to get!! Arrogance and corruption by Israel Agina
towards locals can not be tolerated any more! Agina must go!"
 
  Agina has previously, reportedly been accused by both workers in the plant and locals for injecting and perfecting the art of receiving bribes, and nepotism
among other malpractices in terms of job recruitment in the plant.
 
  He engineered the expulsion of a local who has been working as a casual
labourer and has impressive academic credentials. Peter Ochieng Akello,
anthropology graduate from Moi University who has been jobless for 13 years ago was shown the door when his plight was highlighted by the press.
 
  Another local by the name of  Victor who too had been fired on dubious grounds has now been reportedly reinstated by Agina as result of press reports and extreme pressure from the locals.
 
Further in depth investigations uncovered fresh allegations bedeviling the plant
and being leveled against Agina who appears to have been cornered.
 
  Besieged Agina who formerly worked with Agro chemicals has jeopardized the supply of molasses from Mumias and Chemelil sugar companies because he habours vested interests which are not being catered for. All the tall, well painted magnificent tanks meant for holding molasses for processing in the factory are exhausted and currently empty.
 
  The Kenya Union of commercial, Food and Allied Workers Union (KUCFAW), which represent employees of Specter International, are extremely concerned about the operations of the company which are rapidly grinding to a halt due to an acute shortage of the main raw material, molasses.
 
  This unfortunate situation has been caused by lack of forward planning by the
procurement manager, Agina. He either failed or ignored to secure an agreement with Chemelil and Mumias Sugar companies for the regular supply of molasses.
 
  Panic and fear has griped the workers fraternity that if the shortage of
molasses persists for another two weeks, the factory will face imminent closure
with the possible loss of many jobs and livelihoods-courtesy of Agina- at a time
when the economy requires the creation and sustenance of new employment
opportunities.
 
  Workers fraternity too, who have been pushing the management to the wall
demanding for a union representation and recently got the green light to join,
with over 100 workers joining Kenya Union of Commercial Food and Allied workers union (KUCFAW), unwrapped how Agina has and is still frustrating their efforts to formalize their membership.
 
  The management under the tutelage of Agina has reliably, wrongfully and
unfairly refused to sign recognition form for unionisable workers despite hefty
deductions already instated on their meager salaries, for representation.
 
  Between July and November, 2006, KUCFAW recruited 125 of the company's 130 regular workers. The union has all the requirements specified in the Trade Disputes Act. Cap 234: Being the right union, recruited 94% of eligible workers and Union constitution covers operations of employer.  Agina has adamantly refused to accord the formal recognition.
 
  During a scheduled joint meeting between the management and the union in
November 24th, 2006 , Mr. lsrael Agina declined to sign a recognition agreement whose draft he had approved at a previous meeting. 
 
  Instead, he has covertly sourced for another mysterious parallel union - Kenya
Chemical Allied Workers Union - which he is shoving down the throats of workers through intimidations and threats of job expulsion, to join.
 
  Workers who strongly feel that the company is attempting to deny them their
right of association as enshrined in section 80 of Kenya's constitution have
vowed to resist at all cost Agina's self-centered manouvers.
 
  In a letter dated 24th Nov addressed to the ministry of labour and human
resource development and copied to relevant authorities, the workers asserted
their confidence, recognition and unwavering support to KUCFAW and conversely denounced any arrangement or agreement to be represented by any other union or any interested party on their behalf. And that they are left to exercise their rights.
 
  The locals and Unionisable workers strongly loathed the competence and
commitment of Mr.lsrael Agina to discharge effectively the twin functions of
procurement and Human Resource Management.
 
  They further accused him of running the outfit as a personal property and a
visit to the plant by this journalist confirmed the same. His herds of unhealthy
cattle, eight in total which are not only residing in the factory but are also
said to be proceeds of the corruption were grazing in the compound, literally.
 
  Aggrieved locals and plant's workers interviewed reveals that there is
widespread need for the rift between feuding locals and the management to be
healed,. Agina should step a side, since he is the visible obstacle and cashing
in on his strong political ties with the Odingas to visit all manner of evil
things to the locals.