MASSIVE CORRUPTION ROCKS RAILA'S MOLASSES PLANT.

12/04/2006
GRANTS WECHE MOKADHO AGAJA KUYO BARUPE WECHE DONGRUOK MBAKA NONRO JEXJALUO NGECHE LUO GI GWENG' THUM TEDO LUO KITGI GI TIMBEGI SIGENDNI LUO THUOND WECHE ;	MASSIVE CORRUPTION ROCKS RAILA'S MOLASSES PLANT. BY SHEM KOSSE. Endless queues of grand scams that continues to rock and as become synonymous with Kibaki's regime as not spared either the controversy ridden kisumu molasses plant. The graft still rages at the plant despite of massive exposure by a cross section of the press of racism and questionable tender awards that has dogged the spectre International, a firm associated with the Odingas. Extensive investigation reveals that nepotism, bribery, political loyalty and patronage are the hallmark of job recruitment-both casual and permanent jobs. Besides top-cream positions that were previously available at the onset of the plant's revival and awarded to non-locals, the recruitment of employees at the recently completed yeast plant-within the factory- saw the non natives smiling further all the way back home. Locals have been impeccably shortchanged again and this has sparked off and laid bare the height of deeply routed endemic corruption in the revived Kisumu Molasses plant, which is towering along Kisumu Busia road. Over 30 employees in the yeast plant according to inner sources were absorbed without a properly laid down criteria, with the majority being the non-natives with disastrous academic background or no qualification at all to suit the palm positions they are holding, currently. The move has not gone down well with the natives of Kogony and Karando, whose lands was acquired in 1976 for the project when the incumbent president was the minister for finance and under whose docket the project then fell, at its inception. Natives who sought for anonymity poured scathing attack to the entire management team which they described as a bunch of arrogant and graft-minded lot with no welfare of the locals at their heart at all with Human Resource Director Israel Agina receiving a big share of criticisms. Agina was heavily criticized by locals for his notoriety and tendency of asking and receiving bribes inform of money, cows and the huge chunks of land at the shores of the Lake Victoria , bordering plant's land, for one to get a lucrative job. Aggrieved locals who were breathing fire against the management and more so Agina whom they said should not even be entrusted with the management of a village cattle dip, gave a tearful and sympathetic example of a local with an impressive academic credentials who graduated 13 years ago with anthropology from Moi University who has been working as a casual labourer and yet their home is just a stone throw, was recently fired by the management. Peter Ochieng Akello was shown the door after the weekly citizen Newspaper highlighted his plight alongside racism which has rocked the awarding of tender in the yeast plant. It was reported that yeast plant Director Mr. Vantander in liaison with a corrupt notorious Asian tycoon Sanjay Patel have monopolized every supplies at the plant. All the yeast among other things like Alum, Sodas ash, chlorine is preserve of the bespectacled and stout Sanjay, courtesy of vantander. Peter a village graduate who is too near molasses though very far for him to access an employment was relieved of his menial job of slashing grass at the plant on suspicion that he is leaking negative information to the press, to the amazement and chagrin of the locals At the centre of the locals frustrations, is the area chief Mr. Joseph Osegii and his assistant Mr. John Ndege. The management has reportedly hired the services of the duo administrators and the self styled elders under the flagship of Mr. Nicholas Okamo as the "representatives" of the locals. A move they roundly condemned saying it was solely aimed at suppressing and oppressing the dissent voices since the chiefs does threaten them of dire consequences if they dare point blaming fingers to the management Locals further questioned the role of the area chiefs who are civil servants-in a plant that is not only costliest but also ethnically and politically sensitive-since they are ever glued at the plant at the expense of their official duties, serving their egocentric interests and for the management. It can be recalled vividly and nostalgically during the height of molasses controversy, when the then asst. minister for urban Development Hon Maina Kamana Kamanda kicked out the storm on molasses plant Hon Raila Odinga went ahead to question the government's authority over the plant when he posed. "If we were in Britain he would be a candidate of queen's award. We have managed to revive what had defeated the government. People had come with flames to cut the metals and sell off cheaply. We saved the plant. We don't deserve to be called thieves. We deserve to be candidates of presidential award." This is the areas residents are saying is not in dispute because it is a fact. But what the keen political observers, area elders and locals are wondering to date is that why is Langata Mp Raila Amolo Odinga ever ready and does call a colourful press conference to ward off the critics across the political divide who dare question how the over 240 acres of land occupied by the controversial plant was acquired by Odingas. And, he will never do the same to address the plight of the locals who are aggrieved close to 5 years since the revival of the plant arguing that he is not a board member of Spectre International. A move viewed by critical pundits as hypocrisy of the highest order and challenged him to come out clean. So are the area residents who too questioned the rationale behind all this, adding that Kenyans will soon wake up to shocking news about molasses plant. "We have been patient enough! We disposed off our lands at meager fee thinking that our kinsmen are going to benefit in the future but this was just but a pipe dream!" said bitter locals. Continuing: "they either dance to our tune or brace for the reprisals that will see them vacating our land". The only "benefits" the natives can brag about is the tap water from the plant which too they say is over treated; raw and stench effluent which affects their green vegetation has it snakes to the lake. And thick nauseating smoke belching from the plant and has it disappears to the thin air; it regrettably reminds them of a dream gone awry. Inaugurated in 1977 and abandoned in 1982 before the government gave up on it officially and put it under receivership in mid 90's, its no gainsaying that the controversy-dogged plant is courting a bomb- shell since tension is fermenting at an alarming rate. And the area residents who are also shareholders through the mysterious and defunct Kisumu Development Trust (KDT) have vowed to drive their message home concerning their significant rightful quest. Until four years ago-formerly known as Kenya Chemical and Food Cooperation (KCFC)-molasses was touted as one of the outstanding white elephant projects spanning two decades. But this now notwithstanding: Surprisingly, there is a larger need for the plant's foreign investors to withdraw temporarily their financial support for the locals' wide-range touchy grievances to be ironed out, amicably. By the time of going to the press, there was a wide spread talks that the bitter locals have been holding a series of secretive meetings strategizing on how to paralyze operations in the plant. It is worth noting that sometimes last year a contingent of anti riot police in full combat gear were compelled to pitch camp for two weeks, throwing a tight security cordon around molasses plant when leaflets were circulated to the effect that the residents had planned to storm the plant without notice and immobilize operations. Joluo.com Ka in gi mari moro ma di wandik ka to orni Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com Daher winjo dwondi in bende, iwinjo?	IDWARO TICH? Inyalo oro twak kod weche manyien ne: Mig. Ajos wuod Atiga WuonAbila@jaluo.com GALAMORO : Riwruok mar JOLUO e Piny Ngima, orwaku uduto mondo ubed e kanyakla mar burani. Ornwa nyingi gi nondi kaka obedo. Riwruok e teko joka Nyanam. WENDO MIWA PARO OD PAKRUOK

12/04/2006

GRANTS

WECHE MOKADHO

AGAJA

KUYO

BARUPE

WECHE DONGRUOK

MBAKA

NONRO

JEXJALUO

NGECHE LUO

GI GWENG'

THUM

TEDO

LUO KITGI GI TIMBEGI

SIGENDNI LUO

THUOND WECHE

; Hit Counter

MASSIVE CORRUPTION ROCKS RAILA'S MOLASSES PLANT.

BY SHEM KOSSE.

Endless queues of grand scams that continues to rock and as become synonymous with Kibaki's regime as not spared either the controversy ridden kisumu molasses plant.

The graft still rages at the plant despite of massive exposure by a cross section of the press of racism and questionable tender awards that has dogged the spectre International, a firm associated with the Odingas.

Extensive investigation reveals that nepotism, bribery, political loyalty and patronage are the hallmark of job recruitment-both casual and permanent jobs.

Besides top-cream positions that were previously available at the onset of the plant's revival and awarded to non-locals, the recruitment of employees at the recently completed yeast plant-within the factory- saw the non natives smiling further all the way back home.

Locals have been impeccably shortchanged again and this has sparked off and laid bare the height of deeply routed endemic corruption in the revived Kisumu Molasses plant, which is towering along Kisumu Busia road.

Over 30 employees in the yeast plant according to inner sources were absorbed without a properly laid down criteria, with the majority being the non-natives with disastrous academic background or no qualification at all to suit the palm positions they are holding, currently.

The move has not gone down well with the natives of Kogony and Karando, whose lands was acquired in 1976 for the project when the incumbent president was the minister for finance and under whose docket the project then fell, at its inception.

Natives who sought for anonymity poured scathing attack to the entire management team which they described as a bunch of arrogant and graft-minded lot with no welfare of the locals at their heart at all with Human Resource Director Israel Agina receiving a big share of criticisms.

Agina was heavily criticized by locals for his notoriety and tendency of asking and receiving bribes inform of money, cows and the huge chunks of land at the shores of the Lake Victoria , bordering plant's land, for one to get a lucrative job.

Aggrieved locals who were breathing fire against the management and more so Agina whom they said should not even be entrusted with the management of a village cattle dip, gave a tearful and sympathetic example of a local with an impressive academic credentials who graduated 13 years ago with anthropology from Moi University who has been working as a casual labourer and yet their home is just a stone throw, was recently fired by the management.

Peter Ochieng Akello was shown the door after the weekly citizen Newspaper highlighted his plight alongside racism which has rocked the awarding of tender in the yeast plant.

It was reported that yeast plant Director Mr. Vantander in liaison with a corrupt notorious Asian tycoon Sanjay Patel have monopolized every supplies at the plant.

All the yeast among other things like Alum, Sodas ash, chlorine is preserve of the bespectacled and stout Sanjay, courtesy of vantander.

Peter a village graduate who is too near molasses though very far for him to access an employment was relieved of his menial job of slashing grass at the plant on suspicion that he is leaking negative information to the press, to the amazement and chagrin of the locals

At the centre of the locals frustrations, is the area chief Mr. Joseph Osegii and his assistant Mr. John Ndege.

The management has reportedly hired the services of the duo administrators and the self styled elders under the flagship of Mr. Nicholas Okamo as the "representatives" of the locals. A move they roundly condemned saying it was solely aimed at suppressing and oppressing the dissent voices since the chiefs does threaten them of dire consequences if they dare point blaming fingers to the management

Locals further questioned the role of the area chiefs who are civil servants-in a plant that is not only costliest but also ethnically and politically sensitive-since they are ever glued at the plant at the expense of their official duties, serving their egocentric interests and for the management.

It can be recalled vividly and nostalgically during the height of molasses controversy, when the then asst. minister for urban Development Hon Maina Kamana Kamanda kicked out the storm on molasses plant Hon Raila Odinga went ahead to question the government's authority over the plant when he posed. "If we were in Britain he would be a candidate of queen's award. We have managed to revive what had defeated the government.

People had come with flames to cut the metals and sell off cheaply. We saved the plant. We don't deserve to be called thieves. We deserve to be candidates of presidential award."

This is the areas residents are saying is not in dispute because it is a fact.

But what the keen political observers, area elders and locals are wondering to date is that why is Langata Mp Raila Amolo Odinga ever ready and does call a colourful press conference to ward off the critics across the political divide who dare question how the over 240 acres of land occupied by the controversial plant was acquired by Odingas.

And, he will never do the same to address the plight of the locals who are aggrieved close to 5 years since the revival of the plant arguing that he is not a board member of Spectre International. A move viewed by critical pundits as hypocrisy of the highest order and challenged him to come out clean.

So are the area residents who too questioned the rationale behind all this, adding that Kenyans will soon wake up to shocking news about molasses plant.

"We have been patient enough! We disposed off our lands at meager fee thinking that our kinsmen are going to benefit in the future but this was just but a pipe dream!" said bitter locals. Continuing: "they either dance to our tune or brace for the reprisals that will see them vacating our land".

The only "benefits" the natives can brag about is the tap water from the plant which too they say is over treated; raw and stench effluent which affects their green vegetation has it snakes to the lake. And thick nauseating smoke belching from the plant and has it disappears to the thin air; it regrettably reminds them of a dream gone awry.

Inaugurated in 1977 and abandoned in 1982 before the government gave up on it officially and put it under receivership in mid 90's, its no gainsaying that the controversy-dogged plant is courting a bomb- shell since tension is fermenting at an alarming rate.

And the area residents who are also shareholders through the mysterious and defunct Kisumu Development Trust (KDT) have vowed to drive their message home concerning their significant rightful quest.

Until four years ago-formerly known as Kenya Chemical and Food Cooperation (KCFC)-molasses was touted as one of the outstanding white elephant projects spanning two decades. But this now notwithstanding: Surprisingly, there is a larger need for the plant's foreign investors to withdraw temporarily their financial support for the locals' wide-range touchy grievances to be ironed out, amicably.

By the time of going to the press, there was a wide spread talks that the bitter locals have been holding a series of secretive meetings strategizing on how to paralyze operations in the plant.

It is worth noting that sometimes last year a contingent of anti riot police in full combat gear were compelled to pitch camp for two weeks, throwing a tight security cordon around molasses plant when leaflets were circulated to the effect that the residents had planned to storm the plant without notice and immobilize operations.

Joluo.com

Ka in gi mari moro ma di wandik ka to orni
Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com Daher winjo dwondi in bende, iwinjo?

IDWARO TICH?

Inyalo oro twak kod weche manyien ne: Mig. Ajos wuod Atiga
WuonAbila@jaluo.com

GALAMORO : Riwruok mar JOLUO e Piny Ngima, orwaku uduto mondo ubed e kanyakla mar burani. Ornwa nyingi gi nondi kaka obedo. Riwruok e teko joka Nyanam.

WENDO MIWA PARO

OD PAKRUOK