Kenya Sugar Board faces top management team shake-up

The sugar industry faces key challenges including competition from imports. Inset: KSB Chief Executive Rose Mkok.

By James  Anyanzwa

The Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) management is set for a shake-up following numerous problems facing the sugar sub-sector.

The Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Co-operatives is set to recommend the removal of the current Chief Executive Rosemary Mkok from office  over problems related to irregular licensing of sugar millers, cheap sugar imports and rampant cane poaching that have hit the Western Kenya sugar belt.

An insider within the 29-member committee said removal of Mkok from office would be part of the sweeping recommendations meant to restore sanity to the sugar industry that is on the brink of collapse.

The report by the committee headed by Mandera North MP Adan Mohamed Noor would be tabled in Parliament before the legislators break for recess on December 5.

When contacted for comment, Noor confirmed that based on the evidence provided by the millers, it appears that KSB has to take responsibility for the crisis in the sugar industry.

“ According to what we are hearing from the millers, there is something wrong with the referee (regulator) and that is what we are reading from all the presentations that have been made by the millers,” he said.

“It is still premature to pass judgment but obviously she (Mkok) is a key player in this mess. There are so many things in this sector that needs to be put in order,” he added.

Failed to appear

Mkok, who has failed to appear before the Parliamentary committee for two consecutive appointments, has been given the last chance to present herself next  Tuesday for grilling.

“We have now given her the last chance on Tuesday to come and testify,” Noor told The Standard yesterday.

Kereke Mbiuki, the committee’s vice chairperson, warned that the rampant sugar cane poaching in Western Kenya is bound to degenerate into a national disaster threatening the survival of the sugar industry and the livelihoods of millions of Kenyans.

He said the licensing of West Kenya and Butali Sugar Company is suspect.

“KSB has been failing in its job. The licensing of some of these millers has been suspect. The licensing of Butali and West Kenya is suspect and this is escalating cane poaching in the area,” said Mbiuki, who is also the MP for Maara constituency.

“We need to take stern action against KSB,” he added.

The committee has questioned the manner in which Butali Sugar Company was licensed and demanded proof that the exercise was done procedurally without breaking the law.

The committee has undertaken to recommend deregistration of the miller unless it is convinced that proper licensing procedures were followed.

The sugar sub-sector faces a number of challenges key among them being capacity under-utilisation.