Editor's Review

  • Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya makes damning allegations against Senator Cleophas Malala in the ongoing Mumias Sugar saga.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has made damning allegations against Senator Cleophas Malala in the ongoing Mumias Sugar saga.

Speaking on Sunday, the county boss claimed the Senator was using the Mumias Sugar saga to enrich himself.

The governor cautioned leaders who lie in order to obtain money and push agendas before working for the good of the people who put them in office.

In April Malala petitioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the Kakamega County Government and County Assembly for alleged misuse of public funds.

Senator Malala asked EACC to conduct a forensic audit of the Mumias Sugar Company Ksh200 million cane development fund, the Ksh200 million County Assembly car loans and mortgage fund, and tender awards.

He further asked the anti-graft agency to probe the alleged irregular withdrawal of over Ksh40 million from the County Assembly car and mortgage revolving fund by the county government leadership.

“I request your office to investigate if the money deposited in the said account at the Co-operative Bank, Kakamega branch is still available and if not where the money disappeared to,” the letter reads in part.

Lask week Devki Group withdrew a bid to invest in Mumias Sugar Company. Group Chairman Narendra Raval noted that the withdrawal was influenced by growing calls for a publicly run bidding exercise.

“As a local investor with a deep understanding of local operations, we had expressed interest in receiving the miller following an invitation by the receiver-manager. However, given the ongoing public interest which the matter has attracted and the call for a publicly run bidding exercise, we have found it worthwhile to take out our application.

Earlier ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi appealed for transparency in the lease of Mumias Sugar Company by Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) to Raval.