President William Ruto in Kakamega on January 20, 2025/PCS
With the ambition of transforming Kenya into a titan of the sugar trade within just a couple of years, President William Ruto unveiled an intriguing blueprint ripe with potential and challenges. On a bustling Monday in Kakamega, Ruto shared a grand vision: by 2027, Kenya will not only fulfill its domestic sugar requirements but will also venture into the world of exporting the sweet commodity. Ever the optimist, Ruto elaborated on the nation’s current measures designed to reinvigorate an industry long beleaguered by productivity snags and inefficiencies.
One staggering maneuver was erasing a whopping Sh117 billion in legacy debts, paying off Sh1.7 billion in accumulated farmer arrears, along with settling Sh650 million owed to employees. “The sector’s revival is no longer a pipe dream,” Ruto enthused. “Given that last year alone, we churned out an unprecedented 832,000 metric tons of sugar, the momentum is unmistakable. By 2027, we aim not only to achieve surplus but also to become a key player in regional export markets, making sugarcane farming a lucrative pursuit.”
His upbeat declarations came during the launch of an exceptional Sh150 million bonus payout ceremony for sugarcane farmers at the renowned Mumias Sugar Company Limited. This bonus is expected to bring smiles to farmers supplying cane to the Mumias facility. A tale of triumph and toil, the bonus marks the tangible fruits of the reforms that have been weaved into the sugar sector’s fabric. “This isn’t just a number,” Ruto stated, “it’s a testament to the transformative power of well-implemented policies and the latent potential within our farmers, poised to elevate countless lives across the nation.” He continued, championing the 2019 Sugar Taskforce’s proposals, and eagerly mentioned having signed into action the Sugar Act 2024. This law delineates sugarcane catchment zones to streamline supply, harmonize milling operations, and usher in a new era of efficiency.
Onstage, alongside him, was the newly minted Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Mutahi Kagwe, who received directives to finish penning the regulations needed to bring the Sugar Act to life, a crucial step in eradicating pesky cartels from the scene.
Another sweetener—figuratively and literally—Ruto pointed out, was the government’s plan to distribute subsidized fertilizer, aimed squarely at enhancing farm output and boosting farmers’ earnings. “This bonus ain’t just any gimmick; it’s set to significantly bolster the sector, positioning it as a fulcrum in Kenya’s grand export scheme.” In an eyebrow-raising yet eye-catching move, half of the annual rent paid to the bank would be parceled out as a bonus to farmers, proportionally rewarded based on how much cane each contributes to the mill.
Ruto quipped, “Picture a transparent, equitable system benchmarking our sugar enterprise. It adapts to the company’s performance—no two-timing fiddles here!” The grand vision he paints could be transplanted to other state-owned sugar mills, provided they get leased out, with the board soon to conjure up a comprehensive study for crafting an enticing incentive structure for farmers.
“Cane testing units will demystify the sugar content question, ensuring farmers reap rewards not just by weight. Quality matters as much as quantity, after all,” he casually noted, a twinkle of humor dancing slyly in his eyes.
Moreover, Ruto nudged Kagwe to sprinkle the fields with one million bags of subsidized fertilizer this year—an ambitious jump from the previous year’s 700,000 bags. His delight knew no bounds when acknowledging that those delivering cane to Mumias are seeing their dues within a brisk week. Ruto further charged the Agriculture Principal Secretary, Paul Ronoh, and company to collaborate with the Sugar Research Board in developing a bespoke fertilizer just for sugarcane to amplify yields.
As if the scene were ripped from the pages of a transformative saga, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and an informed gaggle of regional leaders were also planted among the distinguished gathering, ready to herald an era of sweet possibility.
Report By Axadle
