Five strategies we can use to solve sugar imports saga

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto tours Mumias Sugar Company, Kakamega County.Photo:PSCU

In retrospect, the ongoing debate over importation of sugar from Uganda could mark the turning-point in Kenya’s sugar industry. But this will only happen if the government refuses to be dragged into a debate that sacrifices the interests of sugar cane producers on the altar of petty politics.

That will not be easy. But then, in life, nothing comes easy. It is time for hard, tough decisions by all parties concerned. The first thing to recognise is that the only reason unscrupulous importers routinely flood the local market with what appears like cheap sugar is because corrupt Kenya Revenue Authority and Kenya Bureau of Standards’ officials sacrifice the welfare of Kenyan farmers and consumers by accepting bribes to allow the import of untaxed and low quality commodity.