{"id":520013,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/520013/?format=json","text_counter":21,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Kemei","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":2778,"legal_name":"Justice Kipsang Kemei","slug":"justice-kipsang-kemei"},"content":"Thank you, hon. Speaker. I wish to present a Petition on behalf of the residents of Sigowet/Soin Constituency on privatisation of Muhoroni Sugar Company Limited in receivership. I, the undersigned, on behalf of the residents of Sigowet/Soin Constituency in Kericho County, draw the attention of the House to the following:- 1. THAT, Muhoroni Sugar Company Limited, under receivership, was incorporated as East Africa Sugar Industries Limited on 18th October, 1961 as company number C8/61 to manufacture sugar and engage in other farming business; 2. THAT, the company, which was renamed “Muhoroni Sugar Company” on 21st August, 1991, lies on approximately 2,264.47 hectares of land that was acquired from locals, including residents of Sigowet/Soin Constituency in Kericho County; 3. THAT, two parcels of land, numbers 3977 and 3978/2 are situated in Sigowet/Soin Constituency in Kericho County; 4. THAT, currently, approximately 979.72 hectares out of the above parcels are under cane, an estimated 181.2 hectares has informal settlements occupied by squatters and the rest is fallow; 5. THAT, the company’s financial prospects gradually dwindled prompting creditors, including the former Kenya Sugar Board (KSB), to put the company under receivership in 2001 to offset its debts; 6. THAT, the Government, through Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) owns 74.2 per cent equivalent to 2,067,096 shares in the nominal share capital of the company; 7. THAT, the company is among the Government-owned sugar mills set for privatisation which will result in the transfer of its assets, including land, to private ownership; 8. THAT, the planned privatisation of the company may result in transfer of the land’s utility to uses unlikely to be concomitant to the wishes of the residents; 9. NOTING that this may not safeguard the land rights of the residents who risk permanent loss of their land and its utility for intended purposes; 10. THAT, privatising the company without safeguarding rights of residents could be tantamount to the Government’s abdicating its duty to protect the rights of the residents of Sigowet/Soin to their ancestral land; and,"}