Kenya planning to import sugar by mid-August

President William Ruto addressing the media in State House, Nairobi on August 2, 2023. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

President William Ruto says a consignment of sugar will be imported into the country by mid-August.

The president was on Wednesday, August 2, during a briefing at Nairobi's State House reacting to the increase in sugar prices in recent months.

He, however, did not disclose whether the imported sugar will help reduce or increase the prices.

"We have been reluctant to work against farmers by importing. We have been careful and methodical but finally, we have given licences for the importation of sugar into the country," he said.

"We started with comesa sugar which is not sufficient. In the next one or two weeks, we will see different situations pertaining to sugar prices because that is when the sugar will be imported," added Ruto.

Additionally, the president acknowledged there had been confusion in the sugar sub-sector, including on issues of importation, but which are being resolved.

"We have had confusion and chaos in the sugar sector, but we are streamlining it because it has been riddled with all manner of confusion."

"The reason many companies closed shop is because there is no cane to harvest, they were harvesting cane that is not mature," he stated.

Currently, sugar prices are retailing at between Sh225 and Sh250 per kilogramme.