The Kenya Sugar Board has announced a planned three-month shutdown of sugar mills beginning July 14, targeting key sugarcane-growing counties such as Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Trans Nzoia, and Kisumu.
According to the Board’s Acting CEO, Jude Chesire, the temporary halt is a strategic decision to allow immature sugarcane time to reach full maturity, improving both yield and quality. Chesire said most factories have been operating below capacity, relying on under-aged cane that yields less sugar and reduces farmers’ earnings.
“This is about putting more money directly into farmers’ pockets,” Chesire emphasized.
By allowing sugarcane to mature fully, farmers could see an increase of up to four tonnes per acre, which, combined with higher sucrose content, may translate to earnings of up to Sh72,000 more per acre. The Board believes this shift will mark a turning point in efforts to stabilize the sector and ensure profitability for all stakeholders.
During the shutdown, the Sugar Board will also conduct a two-month cane census and a cane availability survey. These assessments are aimed at aligning factory milling capacities with actual cane supply, ensuring better planning and more efficient operations in the future.
Millers, too, are expected to gain from the increased sucrose levels in mature cane, as less raw material will be required to produce each tonne of sugar, thereby cutting operational costs.
Chesire reassured the public and industry stakeholders that Kenya remains protected from cheap sugar imports through the COMESA safeguards, which have been extended to November 2025.
Despite the potential for short-term disruptions, the Sugar Board insists the long-term benefits outweigh the costs. The planned shutdown promises higher incomes for farmers, a more sustainable cane supply, and improved efficiency across the industry.
“This is a win-win: better returns for farmers and greater efficiency for millers,” Chesire concluded.
The shutdown marks a significant shift in Kenya’s sugar policy, as the country strives to revamp a struggling sector plagued by inefficiencies and poor farmer returns.
