Lusaka offers hope to Nzoia Sugar farmers and workers, confirms plan to clear arrears

Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has moved to allay concerns among sugarcane farmers and workers of Nzoia Sugar Company, assuring them that the government is expediting the clearance of long-standing arrears.

Addressing mourners during the funeral of the late Mama Keresenja Wechuli, mother to former County Health Chief Officer Patrick Wandili, in Mutomolo, East Sang’alo, Governor Lusaka said that the government remains committed to protecting the welfare of both farmers and factory employees as the leasing process of state-owned sugar mills nears completion.

“We are keenly aware of the plight of sugarcane farmers and factory workers,” said Lusaka. “The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture has confirmed that the government has finalized a structured plan to settle all outstanding payments, including salaries, pensions, and statutory deductions, before the lease officially takes effect.”

According to the governor, the plan is anchored in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers (KUSPAW), providing a clear roadmap for the disbursement of the dues.

Governor Lusaka also expressed confidence in the government’s leasing strategy, describing it as a turning point for the revival of the sugar industry. “Leasing is the most viable solution to resuscitate struggling sugar millers. It promises to rejuvenate operations and uplift the livelihoods of thousands who depend on these factories,” he noted.

Nzoia Sugar Company, one of the key players in the region’s sugar sector, has been leased to West Kenya Sugar Company—owned by the Rai Group—for a 30-year period. This forms part of a broader national initiative aimed at revitalizing Kenya’s ailing sugar industry.

The governor’s remarks come at a critical juncture, offering a ray of hope to a community heavily reliant on the sugar sector for economic survival.