- Ruto has vowed to deal with sugar cartels accused of repeatedly blocking Kenya Sugar Board elections.
- The latest election suspension has raised fresh concerns over who controls the sugar sector.
- The government has outlined financial support and reforms aimed at improving the fortunes of sugarcane farmers and mills.
Sugar cartels holding the cane industry hostage will be dealt with accordingly, President William Ruto has announced.
The President said it was time the cane sector was rescued from middlemen, brokers and cartels who have taken charge of its operations and are suppressing cane farmers.
“These cartels who have been using the courts to scuttle and suspend the scheduled Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) directorship elections countrywide are known and will be unmasked very soon, and I am asking Kenyans to give me a little more time to plan how I will deal with them completely,” he assured.
Addressing farmers at the recent Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit (AFSS) in Nairobi, President Ruto said the sugar sector was being fought by known individuals who did not want the elections to be held so they could continue to import cheap sugar and flood the market while killing local production.
“I know those behind the numerous suspensions of the Kenya Sugar Board elections across the country are listening to me now, and they know that I know them, and I am requesting some little time to craft a solid plan on how I will deal with them completely,” he urged the farmers.
He noted that on several occasions, efforts to hold elections have hit a snag as the cartels have been sabotaging the process through sponsored court orders.
He revealed that it was the cartels who were sponsoring a section of farmers to rush to the courts and block the planned elections, which have now been suspended for the third time consecutively.
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The President said it was time for the government to crack the whip on the cartels and streamline the sugar industry for prosperity.
To ensure that the sector thrives, the government has set aside Ksh1.8 billion to offset farmers’ debts by December this year, with their bonuses being paid by the start of November 2026.
Also, for the struggling sugar factories, the government has allowed the private sector to inject its input to ensure the factories stay afloat.
During the breakaway session on sugar subsector transformation for competitive mills and better farmer returns, held at the Jamhuri Showgrounds, stakeholders came together to deliberate on transforming Kenya’s sugar industry from cane production to competitive milling and better farmer returns.
During the side event, key issues discussed included reliable seed canes and extension services, research and adoption of improved climate smart varieties, cane pricing, transparent weighing and timely payments, regulation and farmer protection, effective utilisation of the Sugar Development Fund (SDF), value addition, youth mainstreaming, financing, and utilisation of by-products for a circular economy.
The talks revolved around the need to develop a cane-to-sugar reform matrix that will boost productivity, ensure reliable cane supply, improve the competitiveness of mills, increase farmer incomes, and build a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive sugar industry.
Upon conclusion of the session, exemplary farmers in the sugarcane value chain were awarded in recognition of their innovation, resilience and contribution to sector transformation.
So far, the Kenya Sugar Board countrywide directorship elections have been suspended three times, with the latest one scheduled to be held on September 5, 2026.
By Wakhungu Andanje
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