By Joshua Cheloti

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has showered praises on his Kakamega counterpart Boni Khalwale.

This is after Khalwale openly spoke against the Kenya Kwanza government’s plan to privatise non-performing state corporations and companies.

In a tweet on Sunday, Sifuna said by choosing to speak the truth about the privatisation plan, the Senate minority whip was “free now”.

“There is an OBJECTIVE TRUTH that we can all see despite our political differences. On every single issue, ALL of US know what the truth is,” tweeted the Senator who doubles up as the ODM Secretary General.

“Atleast on the Privatization Bill Omwami ⁦@KBonimtetezi⁩ has chosen not just to KNOW the Truth but to SPEAK it. He is FREE now,” he added.

The cabinet last month approved the Privatisation Bill that seeks to allow the government to privatise state corporations without seeking the approval of the parliament.

But even before the bill is presented in the National Assembly for debating, it has been opposed by a section of opposition leaders who claims it seeks to give the government a free will to sell off government companies.

Financially struggling Mumias and Nzoia Sugar companies have been listed among those lined up for privatisation.

The two companies are in Western Kenya.

However, speaking during an interdenominational service in Kakamega County on Saturday, the vocal area Senator said they will not allow the two companies to be privatised.

According to the Khalwale, giving up the sugar companies to private entities would mean the Community loosing land they donated for their setting up.

“You have said that government companies will be privatized and in that, we have Nzoia and Mumias Sugar companies. I beg you, as a leader in Luhya community, our forefathers donated 12,500 acres of land to Mumias Sugar Company and 24,500 acres to Nzoia sugar. If you privatise, someone will go away with our ancestral land,” Khalwale told Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who was the chief guest at the event.

“Sisi hatuwezi unga mkono that. We cannot and this is not out of disrespect for the Presidebt or the government. That has the little we have,” he added.