County bosses oppose move to import sugar from Uganda

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County bosses from the Sugar growing zones have opposed plans to import sugar from Uganda to bridge the deficit.

Governors Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) and Okoth Obado (Migori) feared the imports will ruin the industry and expose millions of people, especially in Nyanza and Western sugar belt to poverty.

Speaking separately, the county bosses said sugar imports could kill the local industry if not regulated.

"Sugar barons are more powerful than Nyong’o, but I am against the imports of sugar from Uganda. Let’s stop importing problems to the sugar industry,’’ said Nyong’o.

Prof Nyong’o said cheap imports will hurt the local sugar industry already in financial straits. Governors Oparanya and Obado echoed similar sentiments. Mr Obado said sugar factories in Uganda aren’t better than those in Kenya to produce the surplus for export.

“This move I think is ill–intended,” said Obado. The governors wondered how Uganda, which by 2011 was facing a sugar deficit, had moved fast to become a net exporter of the sweetener to Kenya. They called for enforcement of the rules of origin. “How fast did their industry grow in leaps and bounds to be in a steady position to export sugar to Kenya?” Obado posed.

Analysts say more of Uganda’s agricultural land has been devoted to sugar plantations.

Sugar Directorate boss Solomon Odera said this has led to the expansion in production capacity, estimated at 400,000-500,000 tonnes annually.