Farmers, KUSPAW demand lasting solution to sugar Industry woes

Chairman of the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, Wanami Wamboka (centre) speaking on 14th March 2023 at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development in Nairobi. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Sugarcane farmers from Western Kenya are pushing for clear policy guidelines and procedures in order to restore sanity in the sugar sub-sector.

They have also petitioned Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi to investigate rogue investors and Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) for allegedly contributing to the current confusion in the sugar industry.

So far, Kenya Union of Sugarcane Plantation and Allied Workers (Kuspaw) branch representatives from Kakamega County have formally written to Governor Fernandes Barasa demanding that his administration develops binding policy guidelines stipulating the role of sugar factories in developing and harvesting sugarcane.

The KUSPAW officials are Patrick Mutimba representing Mumias sugar branch, Jeremiah Akhonya of West Kenya sugar company and Felix Masoso representing Butali Sugar.

They argued that counties in sugarcane growing zones can go ahead and formulate regulations that will rein in rogue investors known for reaping where they did not sow.

Mutimba said AFA ought to shed light on how the investor who took over the management of Mumias sugar company was cleared to start milling cane last year without establishing the availability of raw material within its expansive catchment which extends to Bungoma and Siaya counties.

According to them, part of the reason the industry was experiencing raw material crunch was that Mumias sugar, with an installed crushing capacity of 8,000 metric tonnes of cane (tcd) per day resorted to harvesting cane developed by competitors to remain afloat for the one year.

They regretted that thousands of workers have been rendered jobless after sugar factories in the region closed shop. "These workers are now struggling to make ends meet," said Akhonya.

Sugar Mills that have suspended operations in Western alone are Nzoia Sugar, Olepito Sugar, West Kenya Sugar, Busia Sugar, Butali Sugar, Mumias Sugar and Naitiri Sugar which closed last month.

"It is sad that the current cane shortage situation can be partly be blamed on the Mumias Sugar Company which commenced its operations without any single cane in its nuclear estate," read the letter in part.

Both farmers and union officials want Sugar Mills to prioritise the development of sugarcane to forestall confusion in the sub-sector similar to the one currently being experienced.

"The current investor in Mumias after taking over through a lease program did not bother to develop canes that had been developed by other millers in the out-growers programs and hence this serious shortage," reads the letter.

Their sentiments were echoed by Bumula Jack Wamboka who has urged the government to scout for a new investor to take over at Mumias sugar company citing controversies surrounding the current management.

Wamboka also took issue with President William Ruto for allegedly turning a blind eye to the plight of sugarcane farmers in Western Kenya and reneging on his campaign pledge to procure and have a new mill installed at Nzoia sugar company to boost efficiency.

He said: "The investor who was handed Mumias Sugar Company has failed, the president should act expeditiously and remove them."

"We are aware the president will embark on a two-day development tour of Bungoma starting Sunday 27, we urge him to fulfill his campaign pledges and give Nzoia a new mill as earlier promised," said Wamboka.