Mumias Sugar Company workers have accused Sarrai Group of delaying their salaries and allegedly importing workers from Uganda to work at the sugar miller.
They claim that they have not been paid salary arrears amounting to Sh2.3 billion, which has been pending since 2018 despite reports of the Uganda-based company taking over operations at the sugar miller.
“We want arrears to be paid immediately. We also want locals to be allowed to work in the company and Ugandans who were brought in be deported back to their country,” Patrick Mutimba, Mumias Sugar Workers Union Chairman said in Kakamega during the protests.
“The few Kenyans working inside are working overtime and they are not being compensated,” he added.
The workers also questioned the controversial leasing of the Mumias Sugar nucleus land.
They allege that Sarai Group has appropriated more than 8,000 acres almost for free.
“The average price of land in Mumias now is Sh700,000. Multiplied by 8,000 acres, the value is Sh5.6 billion but Sarrai is getting it almost at no cost,” said Mutimba.
The protests come two weeks after Sarrai Group was stopped by the Court of Appeal from operating the sugar miller until a case filed against it is heard and determined.
On April 14, 2022, the court upheld the ruling that directed the Ugandan firm to vacate the milling company premises.