Consequences of sugar mills shut down due to biting cane shortage

Mumias farmers and workers protest at Mwitoti on May 10, 2023. They appealed to President William Ruto to fulfil his promises about Mumias Sugar Company. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Anxiety has gripped cane-growing areas in parts of Western with the planned three-month shutdown of factories due to sugarcane shortage.

Workers and farmers' representatives we spoke to say the directive was unavoidable, and the industry will now have to bear the consequences of lacking proper regulatory measures and ignoring farmers in their plans.