Oparanya-led team calls for blanket ban on sugar imports

Sugar cane farmers demonstrate outside the Kisumu County governor’s office to push for payment of their arrears. A team set up to look at the sector is finalising its report. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

A sugar task force set up in December last year has started making recommendations that could have far-reaching effects in the sugar sector.

The task force created by President Uhuru Kenyatta, and chaired by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, is recommending a total ban on sugar importation.

It is also proposing a radical restructuring of State-owned sugar millers.

In an interview with The Standard on Sunday, Mr Oparanya, said the task force had already finished 95 per cent of its work.

He added that a draft report had been prepared after reviewing the regulatory and institutional framework governing the ailing sector.

“We have finished preparing the technical report after receiving written and oral presentations from sector stakeholders,” said Oparanya.

“We are optimistic that if the Government implements some of the recommendations in the draft, the future looks good for farmers.”

He averred that the team he has been working with has identified five key areas that need urgent attention.

To begin with, the task force recommended that Government should embrace a total ban on sugar importation.

“Records we have indicate that Kenya is sugar sufficient and therefore the unregulated, free for all and politicised sugar importation has hurt the sector,” said Oparanya.

 Review pacts

He also called for a review of trade pacts with member countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) aimed at barring sugar from the bloc.

While stressing the need for a restructuring of sugar millers, Oparanya said its time the millers got better managers after previous ones let down farmers.

“We have to look at the management of State-owned sugar millers. This includes the top managers and the board of directors. They have slept on their jobs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Oparanya who is also the chairman of the Council of Governors, said farmers who supplied sugar cane to Mumias, Nzoia, South Nyanza, Muhoroni and Chemelil sugar copmanies will be paid this week.  

“The Government will release Sh2.7 billion. Out of that money, Sh1.9 billion will go to farmers, and Sh800 million will go to the millers,” said Oparanya.

The task force will also meet farmers to hear their thoughts about the draft report.