Chemelil Sugar Company CEO Leaves Office After Court Ruling.

 

Photo: Chemelil Sugar company files

Chemelil Sugar Company's CEO Gabriel Nyangweso has officially handed over office to a newly appointed Acting CEO.

Gabriel Nyangweso was appointed in 2017 as the CEO of the miller by the ministry of agriculture. He joined Chemelil sugar when it was on its knees. Through his hard work and determination, he was able to plough and plant sugarcane on the nuclear estate which had been fallow for many years.

He was loved by farmers because he was able to pay the farmer's dues on time as agreed but was always at loggerheads with the employees because the company could not serve both the salaries and the farmer's proceeds.

Mr Nyangweso’s promotion and that of the Head of Finance, Mr Emmanuel Ngala, were quashed following a petition filed by Caleb Gichana.

Mr Gichanga challenged the legality of their stay in office on the grounds that they had not been recruited under a competitive process.

According to the petitioner, the duo’s stay in office was unlawful, and unconstitutional and was done without proper gazette notices - a violation of Articles 10 and 232 of the Constitution.

“Mr Nyangweso was incompetent and had run down the company through malpractices and irregularities, including nepotism and corruption,” he claimed.

Justice Stephen Radido of the Employment and Labour Relations Court, while delivering the ruling, said the Ministry of Agriculture was guilty of negligence of duty and failing to constitute a board for Chemelil Sugar Company.

Justice Radido, therefore, ordered the ministry to appoint or advertise for the recruitment of the board of directors and ensure the advertisement and recruitment of a competent CEO.

In accordance with the law, the board will then embark on the recruitment of the next CEO of the sugar miller.

The court decision comes a year after the Kenya Union of Sugarcane Plantation and Allied Workers (Kuspaw) accused the two of engaging in financial impropriety and failing to remit statutory deductions, among others.

In addition, sugarcane farmers have raised concerns that the lack of substantive boards has threatened the operations of Sony, Chemelil and Nzoia sugar companies.

Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, while dissolving the boards of the three firms on July 16, 2020, said the aim was to give room for the leasing process and handing over of the management to private entities.

The absence of the boards has complicated the operations of the firms as CEOs have no one to account to.

“The move has led to the management of the three sugar factories resorting to making unilateral decisions, which could be detrimental to the companies,” he said.

To protect public assets against misuse and pilferage, the government to conduct an audit of the public mills.

Mr Nyangweso has defended his reign at Chemelil, saying the company has managed to update the remittance of statutory deductions.

“Further, in respect to National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions, where there had been arrears of prior years, we have an agreement with them on settlement and we have not defaulted in our obligations,” he said.

He also noted that the management has been honouring an agreement that requires them to pay farmers for cane delivered within 10 days.

The miller’s Quality Assurance Manager, Jacqueline Kotonya, will be in charge for the next one month as the Ministry of Agriculture sources for a substantive office holder.

Is it wrong to bathe after having that sumptuous meal? Find out why you should not worry.

There is a myth that one should not shower immediately after having a meal. The belief is that doing so can cause indigestion and other digestive issues. 

However there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. In fact there are several benefits to bathing after eating, such as helping to relax the body and reduce stress, which can aid in digestion. It's also a great way to cleanse the skin and remove any food particles that may be stuck to the skin. 

It's also ok to bath before meal and in fact some people have habit of taking bath before meal as a form of refreshing the body. It's generally recommended to wait at least 30 minutes after a meal before bathing, to allow the body time to begin the digestion process. 

But this is not a rule but one can bath as per his/her comfortability, If one feels comfortable taking a bath immediately after eating, it should not cause any harm. Additionally, the timing of a meal in relation to a bath is not as important as the overall health of an individual. 

For example, if a person has a medical condition that affects their digestion, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or acid reflux, they may need to take extra precautions when it comes to bathing after eating. In such cases, it would be best to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best course of action.

It's also worth noting that if you are taking a very hot bath, that can be a contributing factor to digestion issues because the hot water can cause blood vessels to dilate and cause blood flow to shift away from the digestive system. This is not the case with a normal temperature bath, luke worm bath is most suitable after a meal. 

 Generally, it's important to listen to your body and pay attention to how it feels after a meal. If you experience discomfort or indigestion after bathing immediately after meals, it may be best to wait a bit longer before taking a bath. 

But if you feel comfortable and relaxing after taking a bath then it's fine to continue with the same. It's also worth noting that the type of food consumed and the amount of food consumed can also affect whether or not it's safe to bathe immediately after eating. Consuming a heavy or high-fat meal may make an individual feel more uncomfortable after bathing as compared to consuming a light or low-fat meal. 

So if you are planning to take a bath after a heavy meal, it's best to wait for some time to allow the body to start the digestion process and for the food to move down to the stomach.

Another important factor to consider when it comes to bathing after eating is the water temperature. As mentioned earlier, a hot bath can cause dilation of blood vessels and shift blood flow away from the digestive system, which can negatively impact digestion. In contrast, a lukewarm or warm bath can be relaxing and help to promote digestion. 

So, if you are planning to take a bath after a meal, it's best to stick to lukewarm water to avoid any negative impacts on digestion. In summary, bathing after a meal is not a problem and there is no harm in it. It is a myth. 

While it is generally recommended to wait 30 minutes to an hour after eating before bathing, the timing ultimately depends on the individual and their comfort level. And, it's also important to consider the type of food consumed, the amount of food consumed, and the water temperature before taking a bath.