Some of the more than 600 sugar cane outgrowers in Kwale County protest in one of the farms at Ramisi over the closure of Kwale International Sugar Company Limited on July 28, 2018. [Gideon Maundu/Standard].

Farmers in Awendo, Muhoroni and Chemelil sugar belt have threatened to stop delivering cane to the State-owned millers until they are paid.

Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Secretary General Ezra Okoth and branch federation officials gave the millers a two-week strike notice.

"Most of the cane growers have been waiting for this money with bated breath. Let's hope the Government will move fast to clear the arrears," said Okoth.

The farmers expressed rage that they undergoing financial difficulties yet the factories owe them millions of shillings.

The farmers said they would not be able to pay fees for their children when schools re-open next week.

The farmers' organisation officials asked the Government to make good its promise to offset their dues.

During the reading of this year's budget, the National Treasury allocated Sh700 million for off-setting part of the Sh2.1 billion debt owed to farmers across six sugar companies.

But yesterday, enraged farmers said two months after the Budget was read and passed, they were yet to receive payments.

Awendo branch federation officials, led by Odondi Omollo, said they had already given Sony Sugar Company 14 days and issued the police with a strike notice.

"We have notified the relevant authorities of the impending strike," Omollo told the Press and vowed to mobilise farmers to stage demos to press for their pay.

The Awendo-based farmers are unhappy that the Sony Sugar management is taking too long to pay them their dues for cane delivered to the factory, milled and sold out.

The company currently owes the farmers about Sh400 million for deliveries made in November last year.

The company's accountant, Edward Odhiambo, said they were looking for money from banks to help them offset part of the debts.

"Farmers are on our neck. They come here on a daily basis demanding to be paid, but our hands are tied. But once we get the money, we will pay promptly," said Odhiambo.

He implored farmers to be patient as they try to find a solution by seeking bank overdrafts to offset part of the arrears.

"We are in discussion with a number of banks to help us secure some loans so that we can offset in part the millions we owe farmers," Odhiambo said.