Kenya Sugar Millers Association (KESMA) has appointed former Sony sugar Managing Director (MD) Stephen Ligawa as its new (CEO).
Kesma chairperson Jayanti Patel said Ligawa brings over 30 years’ experience in the industry having worked at Sony sugar for all the years.
Ligawa takes over from advocate Saulo Wasilwa who principally served in 2022 and left for other legal duties.
“We are happy to bring Ligawa on board to run the sugar manufacturers secretariat,” said Patel.
Prior to his new role, he served for two months at the new Angata sugar factory as a technical advisor in Narok County before Kesma tapped him.
Ligawa will be expected to provide leadership to Kesma and help the agency to champion sound sugar policies as the link with the government.
He will also be the link with the industry investors and manufacturers both new and coming up ones among other assigned roles by Kesma Board.
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“I am here to help the manufacturers to run the industry effectively, looking at their management challenges and suggesting remedies, ‘’he said.
Yesterday, speaking to the press in his office, Ligawa promised to pursue the poor state of roads in his top agenda as he settles in office.
The roads leading to and out of the sugar industry have been a bane in hauling cane in the industry.
The poor states of roads are causing the millers and farmers massive losses due to cane spillage and consequently increased the cost of production.
“The poor road conditions have led to frequent breakdown of cane transportation vehicles, increased fuel consumption and caused significant delays in cane delivery to the factories,” he said.
Consequently, Kesma appealed to Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERA), to intervene to repair the roads through a letter copied to the Sugar Directorate boss Jude Chesire and the Director General National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
Kesma wants KERA to consider implementing emergency road repairs and maintenance to restore the roads to a usable condition.
This, Ligawa said, will ensure safe and efficient transportation of cane.
They also want a long term infrastructure improvement plan in the sugar belt to prevent recurrent road damages and to minimize losses as a result of cane spillage while on transit to the sugar factories.
“We want a system of regular monitoring and maintenance of the roads to ensure they remain in good condition to support the demands of the industry,” said Ligawa.
Over the last twenty years, Kesma observed that new sugar factories have been opened in all sugar growing areas with poor feeder roads and still old and poorly maintained marram roads exist.
To this extent, Ligawa said. “The sugar industry can’t bear the burden placed upon it by poor infrastructure. Immediate action is required to mitigate these challenges and support growth and sustainability of this critical sub sector.’’
The Kesma official also asked MPs to fast rack enactment of sugar Bill 2022 into law to provide a framework for long term infrastructure improvement in the sugar industry.
Fredrick Odiero
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