Ruto's Kakamega tour a mockery, cane farmers say

President William Ruto during groundbreaking ceremony for the Malava Cluster Water Supply project at Myundi in Malava Sub-county in Kakamega county on August 17, 2024. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Sugarcane farmers in the Western region have said President William Ruto's tour of Kakamega failed to address their grievances, saying he did not come up with a solution to the drop in sugarcane prices.

Last week, farmers accused the Agricultural Food Authority (AFA) of colluding with cartels following a drop in the price of a tonne of cane from Sh5,100 to Sh4,950.

Previously, sugar factories were paying farmers Sh6,500 per tonne of cane before the AFA reviewed the price to Sh5,100 in March. The Interim Sugarcane Pricing Committee announced the new price on August 8.

"Following the expiry of the interim cane pricing committee in the absence of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary to appoint the same, the price for cane per tonne in the interim is guided at Sh4,950," read a statement from AFA acting Director Jude Chesire.

While in Malava on Saturday, during the launch of the Sh2 billion water project, President Ruto said he will address the price problem.

"I am being told that the price of cane has slightly dropped, these people (AFA) I will be hard on them, because we want the farmer to get his/her rightful share."

But Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Secretary General Simon Wesechere said the President was not committed to reviving the sugar sector. He said Ruto had failed to sign the 2022 Sugar Bill into law.

"The President is part of the problem facing cane farmers, his promises and roadside declarations are not helping. His purported empathy with farmers is like crocodile tears," said Wesechere.