The Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) has announced a three-month suspension of sugar milling operations in both Lower and Upper Western regions, citing an acute shortage of mature sugarcane. The move, which will take effect from July 14, 2025, is expected to allow the sugarcane crop time to mature and enable a more sustainable resumption of processing activities.
In a press statement, KSB Acting Chief Executive Officer Jude Chesire explained that the decision follows wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders and aims to prevent further economic losses to farmers and millers caused by premature harvesting. “This is due to inadequate cane development to match milling capacity. This has led to harvesting and subsequent milling of immature cane,” Chesire noted.
The affected areas in the Lower Western region include Mumias, Busia, and Siaya counties—well-known for their significant contributions to sugarcane farming. In the Upper Western catchment, the shutdown will affect Bungoma, Kakamega, Trans-Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, and Northern Nandi counties. These regions form the backbone of Kenya’s sugarcane production and the closure is expected to have a notable short-term impact on national sugar output.
The decision was formalised during a stakeholders’ meeting held on July 4 at the Sarova Imperial Hotel in Kisumu. Participants unanimously agreed that the current volume of mature cane was insufficient to sustain milling operations and continuing with immature harvests would further undermine farmer profitability.
During the suspension, the KSB will undertake a comprehensive Cane Availability Survey over two months to accurately assess cane maturity levels and establish the optimal milling capacity for each factory. This initiative is intended to guide a more coordinated and efficient reopening process.
Chesire also urged millers to invest aggressively in cane development to ensure consistent raw material supply in the future. “All millers should aggressively develop cane to ensure an adequate supply of raw material in future,” he said, highlighting the need for strategic long-term planning.
While the temporary shutdown poses short-term challenges, KSB maintains that it is a necessary step to safeguard the long-term stability of the sugar sector and protect farmers from unsustainable losses.
