Furious protesters accuse Kenya Sugar Board of bias over Mumias Reopening

Stakeholders in the sugar sector protested against Kenya Sugar Board after they allowed Mumias Sugar company appeal against closure.

The stakeholders cited biasness stating that it was going to be a recipe for chaos and confusion in the Lower Western region.

Sugarcane farmers, members of the business community from Tangakona and Nambale, and boda boda operators on Thursday held a peaceful demonstration to demand the recall of a letter issued to Mumias Sugar allowing it to resume milling.

They accused the sugar board of allegedly exhibiting open bias in decision making, noting that such is tantamount to killing the sugar sub sector in Busia county.

John Orengo, who was among hundreds of protesters during Thursday's peaceful demonstration along Busia-Mumias Road said, “When the Sugar Act was assented to by the President last year, we had a lot of expectations because AFA had messed the industry but reality is dawning on us that the more things change, the more they remain the same, which is quite unfortunate.”

“The Kenya Sugar board as a referee should be impartial in their decision making. How do you order for closure of all millers in the region then afterwards one miller sneaks in an appeal and you hastily accept it before verifying the authenticity of the cane they are saying they have?” posed Mr Orengo.

His sentiments were echoed by Busia County boda boda chairman Boniface Okumu, who urged the Sugar board to rethink the decision it has taken.

“There are three millers in Lower Western, all of them were asked to close, but one of them has been allowed to resume harvesting cane while the two remain closed, that is unfair and shall not be accepted,” Okumu said. 

The locals threatened to barricade the road and interfere with harvesting and transportation of the sugarcane in Busia county to Kakamega should Sugar board ignore their demand.

“Mumias was licenced to start milling sugarcane without their own developed or contracted canes. From day one they started poaching canes contracted by other millers. This industry is dying slowly,” Otaget Osigwar said.

He continued, “The obvious reason for closure was inadequate mature sugarcane in the region for mills to crush, and all the three sugar factories were part of the meeting. How did cane mature in four days to warrant the board to give Mumias Sugar the nod to mill?”

“All Busia politicians are silent when our factories are being targeted. We voted for you to represent our interests but they have chosen to go silent for reasons best known to them. We shall not forget to remind you when the right time comes,” said Wycliffe Okodoi.

On December 16, 2024, the Kenya Sugar board released a notice of closure for all millers in Lower Western region which has Mumias Sugar (2021), Olepito Sugar and Busia Sugar Industries. 

The communique on closure was after a consultative meeting with key stakeholders at a Busia hotel chaired by Kenya sugar board top leadership and attended by representatives from the three millers and farmers.

The meeting resolved that due to inadequate mature sugarcane in the region, the millers to stop milling for a period of one month between December 20, 2024 and 20January 2025.

“From the foregoing and further to the resolutions of the stakeholders consultative meeting held in Busia on December 16,2024, the board wishes to notify the millers in the Lower Western Sugarcane Catchment Area of the closure of all milling operations in the Lower Western catchment area for a period of one month with effect from December 20, 2024,” read the notice by the Kenya Sugar Board.

The millers were only to resume upon successful credible joint verification process of all sugarcane each miller has including the acreage and age.

“The cane situation will be reviewed on 20th, January, 2025 to inform on the reopening modalities,” the letter read further.

On the very day closure of Lower Western Mills was to take effect, the Sugar Board gave Mumias Sugar a go ahead to harvest and mill cane while Busia Sugar and Olepito sugar, both based in Busia, remain closed, a development that angered the locals.

Mumias Sugar, which was part of the meeting where the resolution was made to close the factories resorted to making an appeal, which was immediately accepted by the sugar board.

“Our letter dated December 16, 2024 on closure of milling operations in respect of Mumias Sugar (2021) is lifted. We therefore notify you to continue with your milling operations as planned,” read the letter from Kenya Sugar Board.

This is the second time factories in Busia county are closing and now the farmers warn that should the trend continue, the industry will face a bleak future.