President Ruto’s Triple Threat to Sugar Cartels Ignites Controversy

President William Ruto issued a stern ultimatum to individuals involved in what he termed ‘sugar cartels’, accusing them of stifling the growth of the country’s sugar sector.

Speaking during a roadside address in Kakamega County on August 29, President Ruto minced no words as he laid out three stark options for those allegedly corrupting the industry: withdraw their court cases, or face the consequences of jail time, deportation, or a heavenly journey.

Read also: Ruto Fires back at Raila for Slamming USA Ambassador 

The President’s fiery warning has sparked a flurry of reactions across the political landscape, with Ekuru Aukot, the leader of the Third Way Alliance party, challenging Ruto to unmask the identities of these alleged cartels.

Aukot emphasized that cartels are not abstract entities but real individuals, and called on President Ruto to present concrete evidence of their wrongdoings.

“We’ve talked about cartels for the longest time, especially by a government that has all the resources to be able to expose these cartels. They are not ghosts. They are not an abstract reality,” Aukot expressed during an appearance on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show.

Aukot further questioned the selectivity of President Ruto’s focus, pointing out that cartels are present in other sectors as well.

“We have to be skeptical about what the government wants to do; we have to be skeptical when the president chooses to speak about Mumias and doesn’t want to speak about the cartels in his own county of Uasin Gishu,” he added.

President Ruto’s triple-threat prescription didn’t shy away from controversy, as he warned, “Wakitaka kuniletea kisirani either wahame Kenya ama nitawaweka jela ama wasafiri waende mbinguni.”

While some view this strong stance as an unequivocal commitment to combat corruption, others are concerned about the potential for abuse of power.

However, Ruto has maintained his firm position. During a subsequent engagement in Kakamega, he reiterated his message, saying, “Mimi nataka niwaambie wezi wote na wakora na watangazia mapema na mchana… Watakoma na kama hawatakoma maneno ni tatu wahame Kenya, kama sivyo tutawapeleka jela ama kama wako na option ya tatu waende mbinguni.”

President Ruto’s statements have already led to significant developments in the ongoing legal battles surrounding Mumias Sugar Company.

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Vartox Limited, a major player in the disputes, filed a notice of withdrawal from their case challenging the leasing of Mumias sugar to the Uganda-based Sarrai Group. This move comes in the wake of Ruto’s warning, suggesting a shift in the dynamics of the legal battles.

President Ruto’s uncompromising stance against corruption has also drawn praise from sugarcane farmers in the region.

Addressing the farmers at the Kakamega State Lodge, Ruto stressed that his administration would not tolerate corruption and vowed to protect the interests of Kenyan citizens.

“Watu wafanye biashara wale wanataka kufanya biashara, wawekezaji wawekeze katika nchi yetu tunawapenda sana wawekezaji wote tunaheshimu biashara lakini wizi na ufisadi hapana,” he declared.

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