We have seen the recent attempts by the Government to revive
the fallen giant industries in the country.
A lot of resources, in terms of billions of shillings, have
been injected in the sugar industry but the performance of these industries is
relatively poor.
Cost of production in Kenya is very high and this has even
discouraged some investors from setting up agricultural processing industries
mainly due to the high cost of electricity and labor.
For an industry to survive, the returns must be attractive
and must focus on local, national, international and global markets.
We cannot ignore the marketing philosophies and forces that
underline the concept of supply and demand. Importation of sugar will never
stop because it's cheaper.
There is no reason why these industries should struggle to
produce their own if at all other countries are producing the same at a lower
cost. The industries can import the products and repackage them.
We have been exporting coffee to other countries, which is
packaged afresh in a different style, design and size and sold again to Kenyans
at exorbitant prices.