President Ruto Maintains ‘It Is Jail, Deportation Or Heaven’ Threat As One Party Withdraws From Mumias Sugar Case
President William Ruto has reaffirmed his chilling three-step prescription for the court cases between creditors and the Mumias Sugar Company: withdraw the court cases or face imprisonment, deportation, or a trip to Heaven.
Ruto stated on Wednesday that this is not a threat but rather how things will be.
As the President reiterated his ominous message, one of the companies contesting the leasing of Mumias sugar to Ugandan miller Sarrai Group filed a notice with the Court of Appeal seeking to withdraw the case.
In what appears to be a retreat precipitated by President Ruto’s controversial triple threat of prison, deportation, or heaven, one of the parties involved in the Mumias Sugar saga has decided to withdraw from the legal proceedings against Mumias.
Wednesday evening, Dubai-based Vartox Limited, through its Westlands, Nairobi-based law firm Anjarwalla and Khanna LLP, withdrew a case against the leasing of the company to Uganda-based Sarrai Group from the Court of Appeal.
In the withdrawal notice, it is stated, “Take notice that Vartox Resources In, the third respondent in these proceedings, withdraws its application dated December 25, 2022.”
The proprietor of the company, tycoon Sarbjit Singh Rai, is embroiled in a legal dispute with his billionaire brother Jaswant Rai, who owns West Kenya Sugar, over the 20-year lease granted to Sarrai and the manner in which Mumias Sugar was transferred to him.
As the first significant party to withdraw from the Mumias court battle, President Ruto, who is currently on a tour of Western Kenya, rejected calls for him to retract his threats against the parties at the top of the Mumias cases.
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“Wale watu wanazungukana na ma media sijui na nani kuissue press conference you’re wasting your time. Mambo ya corruption will not be part of this country anymore. We are sick and tired, Kenyans are sick and tired, politicians who defend corruption should be ashamed of themselves, those giving defense to matters that are destroying our nation..,” said Ruto.
The president reiterated his three-point admonition.
“Mimi nataka niwaambie wezi wote na wakora na watangazia mapema na mchana… Watakoma na kama hawatakoma maneno ni tatu wahame Kenya, kama sivyo tutawapeleka jela ama kama wako na option ya tatu waende mbinguni…,” said the Head of State.
In a meeting with sugarcane farmers at the Kakamega State Lodge, President Ruto stated that those corrupting the sugar industry will have nowhere to escape.
“Watu wafanye biashara wale wanataka kufanya biashara, wawekezaji wawekeze katika nchi yetu tunawapenda sana wawekezaji wote tunaheshimu biashara lakini wizi na ufisadi hapana, No! Hatuezi peana kampuni ya wananchi kwa mapeni. Nyinyi mnataka hii Mumias na Nzoia ipotee vile Pan Paper ilipotea?” posed Ruto.
The president stated that his administration will not tolerate fraudulent politicians who profit from their positions.
Additionally, the Head of State inaugurated development initiatives in the Kakamega County constituencies of Likuyani and Navakholo.
President Ruto Maintains ‘It Is Jail, Deportation Or Heaven’ Threat As One Party Withdraws From Mumias Sugar Case