Kenya gets another COMESA extension on sugar imports

An establishment of South Nyanza (Sony) Sugar Company. The company together with Nzoia Sugar Company in Western Kenya are hosting pilot projects on sucrose-based payment to cane farmers where Kenya Sugar Research Foundation (KESREF) are taking lead role. The system is expected to undergo tests before it is implemented. (PHOTO: COURTESY)

The Government has been handed two more years to sort out its sugar mess. With this, Kenya is buying time to enable it privatise its struggling sugar millers before the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) safeguards are lifted.

The Industrialisation and Trade ministry told The Standard yesterday that Kenya had received the extension after fruitful negotiations in Madagascar during the 36th Comesa Intergovernmental committee meeting. “I have just received information from my team there that we have gotten an extension of two years before the Comesa safeguards are lifted,” Trade Permanent Secretary Chris Kiptoo said.