Kwale,KENYA: 200 cane farmers in Kwale County wants Kwale International sugar company (Kiscol) to pay up over sh 8 million debt it owes them.
The farmers said Kiscol failed to pay them in 2018 despite supplying the company with sugarcane.
Speaking in journalists in Lungalunga, the farmers claimed that the company stopped paying them their dues as usual when the government shut it down during an ongoing crackdown on illicit, counterfeit and unfit for human consumption sugar.
However, the government denied reports that it has shut down the facility.
Kwale cane growers Secretary General Sammy Mtunga said their members are living in abject poverty due to the arrears.He also called on the government to reopen the sugar firm to avoid it going under.
“Since July 2018 farmers have not been paid and Kiscol keeps saying it has not yet sold any product. We the cane farmers in Kwale are really suffering”, said Mtunga.
However, Kiscol denied the allegations through its head of communication Mathius Mutua who stated that the firm does not owe the farmers any money.
“Those who claim the firm has their debt should come to our offices with evidence because we have records. In fact you will find that it’s them that owe kiscol,’he said.
