Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries Limited has officially assumed control of the operations of the Chemelil Sugar Company, following a competitive leasing process concluded on Friday. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe made the announcement, marking a significant step in the revitalization of the troubled mill.
Jassi Chatthe, Director of Kibos Sugar, took over the ailing factory on Saturday morning and immediately engaged with the workers and farmers present. The meeting focused on the roadmap for restoring the company’s operations, which have been plagued by years of underperformance and financial instability. The takeover, which is part of the government’s broader strategy to lease out struggling sugar factories, has sparked optimism among local farmers and employees who have long endured delays in payments and inconsistent sugar production.
The Chemelil Sugar Company, once a key player in Kenya’s sugar industry, has faced a range of challenges, including outdated machinery, poor management, and a failure to meet the region’s sugar demands. In recent years, these issues have left workers unpaid and farmers unable to sell their cane to the factory, severely affecting the local economy. However, with Kibos Sugar now at the helm, there is renewed hope for the factory’s future.
Farmers and workers at the factory celebrated the announcement, with many praising the government’s decision to lease the mill to Kibos Sugar. They see this as a vital step toward reviving the region’s economy and ensuring a more stable and profitable sugar industry. Farmers are especially hopeful for timely payments and a return to consistent operations, which they believe will enhance productivity and sustainability.
The takeover also reflects a broader effort by the Kenyan government to address the challenges facing the sugar sector, which has been under strain for many years. By bringing in private sector expertise, the hope is to restore confidence in the industry, increase production, and improve the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and workers in the region.
As Kibos Sugar takes charge, all eyes will be on its efforts to modernize the factory and bring about long-term positive change for the local economy and the Kenyan sugar industry as a whole.
