Investment –Kakamega High Court has withdrawn a previous order allowing Sarrai Group to revive Mumias Sugar Company.
The idea to make this unprecedented reverse, according to impeccable sources, was made after the presiding judge learnt that upholding the previous directive would clash with other orders issued by two other courts in Nairobi.
The Kakamega based Justice William Musyoka defended the reverse orders saying his colleagues from Nairobi had updated him over the matter and found that the only option left for him was to stop the Ugandan-based company from starting the process of taking over the stalled miller.
He had earlier allowed the group to start preparation at the Kakamega County-based factory including plans for farming canes. The Ugandan enterprise won a 20-year bid to lease the miller with intentions to breathe life back into it.
The lease, according to documents, was ratified on December 22 but started facing transition challenges after it emerged that some interested parties like Tumaz and Tumaz and West Kenya had also placed even higher bidding of sh 36 billion; way far than Sarrai.
“To avoid the conflict, the order made first in time takes precedence over the latter orders,” the Judge suspended until the matter is fully determined.
Five more farmers led by Lambart Lwanga who had made their applications to be enjoined in the case were also allowed to do so. The judge argued that farmers played an integral part in the whole sector and could be illogical to deny them a chance to air their story.
On its part, Kakamega County Government represented by Senior Counsel James Orengo protested that Agriculture is a devolved function what is informing their push to see the miller operational.
Sadly, the whole revival process is majorly affected by local politics and interests.
