Agriculture CS Peter Munya has affirmed that strides have been made in the implementation of the sugar sector reforms. The reforms are meant to cushion local farmers and play an important role in the revival of the sugar sector. The Agriculture CS was speaking when he visited Nzoia Sugar factory, where he was accompanied by other Cabinet Secretaries, Governors and leaders from the region. The leaders also visited the Mumias Sugar factory.
The directives issued by the government weeks ago to help cushion local farmers include suspension of importation of brown sugar and issuing of brown sugar importation permits, waiving of debts owed by sugar companies, amounting to Kshs 62 billion, and leasing of the sugar factories to investors. “We’ve already made quite some strides in the implementation,” he said, adding that some regulations have already been gazetted and implemented, “The sugar export-import regulations were also gazetted.”
He further urged leaders from the region not to politicize the leasing of the factories. He said the sugar factories had lacked the attraction to investors owing to the huge debts accrued.
