Kenya Sugar Board chairman, Eng. Nicholas Gumbo, has vowed to make Governor James Orengo a one-term county chief, declaring he will clinch the Siaya gubernatorial seat “as early as 8 a.m.” in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Wednesday during a breakfast show on a Kisumu-based vernacular radio station, Gumbo said Siaya must reclaim its position as the torchbearer of devolution, arguing the county has stagnated since the onset of county governments in 2013.
“Siaya should be leading all Luo counties. Luo begins in Siaya because that is where Jaramogi was buried,” he said. “The only person who can straighten things in Siaya is me. I’ll defeat my opponents hands down.”
He accused the current administration of denying residents the full benefits of devolution, asserting that he understands the county’s needs “corner by corner.” Gumbo pledged to restore accountability and accelerate development, saying Siaya residents must finally “see the greatness of devolution and enjoy its fruits.”
The former Rarieda MP also called for unity within the Luo community following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, describing the loss as a historic blow to the region and the country.
“The king is dead, long live the king. Let’s remain united as the Luo community,” he urged.
On national economic matters, Gumbo backed President William Ruto’s decision to lease state-owned sugar factories, terming it a “well-calculated decision” that has revived a sector long crippled by mismanagement and debt.
He noted that the privatization journey began under the late President Mwai Kibaki, stumbled under President Uhuru Kenyatta, and has now been fully implemented under President Ruto.
“The privatization on May 10 has transformed farmers’ lives. Kibaki and Uhuru tried, but implementing it was tough. Ruto has succeeded,” he said.
Gumbo revealed that before the reforms, millers were drowning in debt, producing as little as KSh30 million against an expected KSh150 million while relying heavily on borrowing to survive. He cited Sony Sugar’s improved performance, now generating about KSh250 million, as proof of a sector-wide turnaround.
He projected that six more sugar factories will resume operations next year, effectively ending the need for sugar imports, which he noted have not been done this year.
However, he expressed concern over stalled elections for farmer and miller representatives to the Kenya Sugar Board. He said four court cases, stemming from boundary disputes in the Western, Central, and Southern sugar zones, and demands for additional polling stations, have halted the exercise.
“IEBC said they need KSh5 billion to conduct the elections. The Kenya Sugar Board cannot provide that amount,” he said.
Addressing environmental concerns, Gumbo assured residents that the Board is taking firm action on pollution in River Kibos linked to Kibos Sugar Company. He said the firm has been instructed to install effluent treatment equipment and pledged to work with local leaders and NEMA to enforce compliance.
“The pollution of the River Kibos is serious. It has gone to Parliament and to court,” he said. “We have engaged the company to install an effluent treatment plant. Though expensive, the cost of the machine cannot be compared to human life.”
Gumbo made the remarks in Kisumu during the ongoing Sugar Expo.
