Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malalah, on Saturday, had a face-off with former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa after the latter took a swipe at ODM leader Raila Odinga.
The leaders gave each other a knocking tackle during the burial of Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale’s wife on Saturday in Ikolomani, Kakamega County.
Echesa, who spoke before the Senator, accused the Nasa leader of being behind the woes facing Mumias Sugar Company claiming that the former premier’s company had defaulted on loans borrowed from the miller.
The former CS went ahead and told Malalah that he was sending him to Raila to tell him to clear the alleged debts so that the funds can be used to pay Kenya Commercial Bank(KCB) that is threatening to take over the ailing company.
“Mumias Sugar company will not go anywhere. My brother Cleophas, go and tell Raila that all people who have debts… Spectre company that belongs to Raila Odinga owes Mumias Company 300 million.
We want him to pay that debt so that we can pay Kenya Commercial Bank so that Mumias company can be left to us,” said the former CS.
Senator Malala clapped back to Echesa by sending him to the Deputy President William Ruto with a clear message.
“We are regretting that Mumias Company is on its deathbed, so are these citizens. Because it is you who regularly visit DP Ruto every week, what Mumias need is just money. We need money to revive the Mumias Sugar Company.
So Mr Echesa when the weekend knocks and you go to pay Ruto a visit tell him to give you money so that we can revive Mumias Sugar,” said Malalah.
The Senator went ahead and slammed Echesa saying they have been going to DP Ruto’s home to collect cash but never minded that Mumias too needed the money.
“Don’t go there and collect your monies only, when you receive your shares also consider coming back with some for Mumias Sugar Company.
So, Rashid, you are used to taking your share, before you send me to Raila next time when you visit Ruto come with some monies for Mumias Sugar Company so that we can know you are a man,” said the Senator.
In September, KCB Group placed Mumias Sugar Company under its administration after the miller defaulted on loans totalling to Ksh12.5 billion.
The Bank appointed consultancy firm PVR Rao to take over the Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed firm’s operations.
The move sparked uproar among the Western leaders who opposed the move.