Sugarcane farmers across Kenya are set to receive a financial boost following the Kenya Sugar Board’s announcement that the official cane price will be increased from Sh5,300 to Sh5,500 per tonne. The revised pricing, which takes effect on Monday, May 26, 2025, marks a positive turn for farmers who have long lobbied for better compensation amid rising production costs.
In a directive addressed to all 15 licensed millers, including recently leased state-owned sugar factories, Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh emphasized strict compliance with the new pricing structure. He noted that the adjustment was approved by the Cane Pricing Committee after reviewing the prevailing ex-factory sugar prices over the past three months specifically February, March, and April 2025.
“Based on the prevailing ex-factory sugar prices over the past three months, the price of cane has been increased from the current Sh5,300.00 per tonne to Sh5,500.00 per tonne, effective May 26, 2025,” read a statement by PS Ronoh. “You are hereby requested to adhere to the new minimum cane price while making payments to the farmers on time.”
This directive is not only a price adjustment but also part of broader reforms aimed at revitalizing Kenya’s struggling sugar sector. It seeks to ensure farmers receive fair compensation and are paid promptly for their produce. Dr. Ronoh reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding farmer welfare and improving livelihoods in key sugarcane-growing regions, such as Western Kenya, Nyanza, and parts of the Rift Valley.
The move has been widely welcomed by farmer associations, who view it as a long-overdue recognition of their role in sustaining the industry. Many farmers have decried delayed payments and low returns that have made sugarcane farming financially unsustainable in recent years.
With the new price policy in place, it is hoped that timely payments and better earnings will encourage more farmers to remain in the sector, support job creation, and contribute to the broader goal of achieving sugar self-sufficiency in Kenya.
