Ruto fires back at Kalonzo over sugar farmers' bonus remarks

President William Ruto has responded to claims by Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka alleging that the Ksh.150 million bonus paid to Mumias Sugar farmers earlier this week, was wired from the National Treasury, at the expense of taxpayers, and not the sugar miller.

Kalonzo made the remarks on Wednesday following a Wiper National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Karen, Nairobi, openly questioning the source of the funds while demanding accountability on the same from the ruling government. 

“I urge all MPs to be alert like Mumias MP Peter Salasya; we need accountability where is he (Ruto) getting this money from? If it is a bonus it needs to come through the due process in terms of profit but that is not the case,” Kalonzo said then.

“We know the funds are from the exchequer. We need accountability and we are not going to allow this!”

In a rejoinder on Thursday, Ruto expressed surprise at why Kalonzo would make such allegations despite the fact that sugar farmers had benefited from the extra cash injection. 

“Kuna viongozi wanauliza mbona serikali imesaidia kampuni ya Mumias mpaka imelipa bonus wakulima wa miwa. Kwani mkulima wa miwa si mkenya? Mkulima wa kahawa na mkulima wa chai wanalipwa bonus lakini mkulima wa miwa akilipwa bonus, watu wanaanza kuuliza maswali,” said Ruto in Busia County.

“Hao watu wametembelewa na shetani na tuwaambie washindwe kabisa. Ati wanauliza rais ametoa wapi pesa ya kulipa bonus wakulima wa miwa. Kwani wale wakulima wa chai bonus yao inatoka wapi? Na wale wanalipwa bonus ya kahawa pesa yao inatoka wapi?”

According to Ruto, the bonus is as a result of the miller’s positive change in business fortunes owing to ongoing reforms in Kenya’s sugar industry. He added that all farmers are entitled to bonuses if their respective industries have made profits.

“Mahali pesa ya kahawa na chai inatoka, ndio pesa ya miwa inatoka ndio wakulima wote wakuwe sawa. So, ule mtu wa katikati, sijui watermelon, ati anauliza maswali hiyo…kichwa yake ni mzuri kweli mkipima?” Ruto asked the gathering in attendance.

“Nataka kuambia huyu mtu wa watermelon, mambo ikisimamiwa vizuri, mimi nilipromise tutaweka usimamizi sawasawa, mkulima analipwa, halipwi na serikali. Wafanyikazi wanalipwa, hawalipwi na serikali, bonus imelipiwa, haijalipwa na serikali imelipwa na kampuni because we have put proper management making sure that we make sure those sectors are working.”

Additionally, Ruto announced that the bonus was not exclusive to Mumias Sugar, underscoring that other sugar millers across the country, will start getting bonuses as well.

“Na si Mumias pekee, wamecomplain mapema…ata Nzoia (Sugar) hapa wataanza kulipa bonus..Ata Sony (Sugar) itaanza kulipa bonus,,ata ya Chemilil, Muhoroni na Busia (Sugar) itaanza kulipa bonus,” he said.

“Hawa watu wanataka wananchi waendelee kuwa maskini ndio ati wapange nyinyi wafanye maandamano…wacha tuwasamehe.”