Thousands of workers in the sugar industry are set for tough times after the government imposed a three-month suspension of milling operations in both the Lower and Upper Western sugarcane zones, effective July 14.
In a letter to the sugarcane zones, Acting Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) CEO Jude Chesire announced that the suspension was due to an acute shortage of mature sugarcane, which is necessary to support milling operations.
“This is due to inadequate cane development to match milling capacity. This has led to harvesting and subsequent milling of immature cane,” the letter read in part.
The government's announcement has caused uncertainty among cane farmers in the affected regions. Concerns have been raised about the livelihoods of farmers and mill workers and the stability of sugar supply chains in the country.
According to Chesire, the milling of immature cane has led sugarcane farmers to incur losses due to lower cane yields associated with immature cane harvesting. The suspension will affect Nzoia Sugar, Busia Sugar Industry, West Kenya Naitiri Unit, Butali Sugar Mills, Mumias Sugar, and West Kenya Olepito Unit.
The decision to suspend the milling operations also follows rigorous meetings between stakeholders who had met on July 4 at the Sarova Imperial Hotel in Kisumu, where the meeting resolved to impose the three-month suspension to allow the cane to mature.
During the suspension period, Chesire, in the letter addressed to Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe, revealed that the board will be conducting a sugarcane availability survey.
“In the intervening period, the Board shall, within two months, undertake a Cane Availability Survey to inform the milling capacity of each factory upon the resumption of operations. All millers should aggressively develop cane to ensure an adequate supply of raw material in the future,” the letter continued.
The situation of immature sugarcane has been attributed to erratic weather patterns, delayed planting cycles, and increased competition for cane between millers.
Following the announcement, farmers in the region are reeling from the news. Many rely on sugarcane as their primary source of income, and the suspension, although short-term, threatens to disrupt their cash flow.
The suspension is expected to affect thousands of workers in the sugar industry, from factory employees to transporters and small-scale vendors who depend on milling activities.
Local economies in towns like Bungoma, Busia, and Kakamega, where sugar mills are major employers, also face challenging times ahead.
