Police in Kisumu have apprehended two individuals suspected of setting fire to sugarcane farms, causing significant losses for the owners.
County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo announced that the suspects were taken into custody to aid in the ongoing investigations. He described the incidents as acts of sabotage, aimed at undermining the sugar industry and damaging the local economy.
In recent months, thousands of acres of farmland in Muhoroni, Chemelil, and Kibos have been devastated. “We are unsure of their motives. These individuals seem intent on harming the economy. We need to identify who is behind this,” he stated.
Leparmorijo mentioned that they have held discussions with the regional commissioner, factory representatives, and various stakeholders to address the issue. He urged the community and local leaders to denounce such destructive behavior.
The arrests came after repeated requests from the county government for police action regarding the arson incidents.
Agriculture Executive Ken Onyango condemned the fires as economic sabotage, emphasizing, “Farmers are facing severe losses, and the ongoing fires jeopardize the future of sugar production in the area.”
The fires have disrupted sugarcane development schedules and may lead to a shortage of raw materials, risking the closure of three major factories in the region.
Richard Sewe, Kibos Sugar manager, and Joyce Opondo, corporate affairs manager, reported that the destruction has resulted in substantial losses. “Harvesting and processing burnt cane incurs high operational costs and impacts sugar quality, while also causing environmental issues,” Opondo noted.
Silvanus Oging recounted that his farm was set ablaze on Saturday around 4:35 PM. “I was notified about the fire, and when I arrived, it had already destroyed 64 hectares, 48 of which were mine. The damage is extensive, and I will incur significant losses.”
He had anticipated earning at least Sh8.6 million from his harvest, but now faces uncertainty due to the attack. “I don’t know when the factory will be able to harvest my cane, as they are already overwhelmed with similar cases. It’s disheartening; I was relying on this substantial harvest, and now that money seems out of reach,” he lamented.
He had invested Sh3.6 million in developing his sugarcane plantation.
