Muhoroni Sugar Factory has officially transitioned to new management following its handover to West Valley Sugar Company Ltd.
The handover was presided over by the factory’s receiver manager, Harun Kirui, and received by West Valley Chairman, Alfred Soi.
Representing the Principal Secretary for Agriculture, Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh, was. Elizabeth Yego, who witnessed the event.
West Valley Sugar Company has pledged to prioritise the welfare of sugarcane farmers through timely payments, the introduction of high-yield cane varieties, and the efficient distribution of fertiliser.
Additionally, factory workers have been assured of a smooth transition, with the company projecting increased employment opportunities rather than layoffs, thanks to anticipated improvements in factory productivity.
The government on Friday
announced the completion of the long-awaited leasing of four public sugar
factories, marking a turning point in efforts to breathe life back into Kenya’s
once-thriving sugar sector.
Agriculture and Livestock
Development CS Mutahi Kagwe said the government has officially handed over the
operations of Nzoia, Chemelil, Sony, and Muhoroni sugar companies to private
millers under a 30-year lease.
Kagwe said West Kenya Sugar
Company will now be operated by Nzoia Sugar; Chemelil has gone to Kibos Sugar
and Allied Industries; Sony Sugar will be run by Busia Sugar Industry Ltd;
while West Valley Sugar Company has taken over Muhoroni.
“Stakeholders in Kisumu, Parliament,
and even the courts agreed—leasing was the right model. This is not just about
turning profits; it's about restoring dignity to the thousands of families that
depend on sugar farming and processing,” he said.
The leasing model, Kagwe
explained, was a departure from the previously proposed privatization route
that was rejected after further public participation and legislative review.
He said plan now is to let
private operators bring in capital, expertise, and efficiency, while the
government focuses on oversight and accountability.
“The sugar sector has drained
billions from taxpayers over the years. Now it’s time we let strategic
investment drive its transformation,” Kagwe added.
As the four millers settle
into their new roles, the government has reassured farmers, workers, and the
public that it remains firmly committed to supporting the sector’s revival.
“This is a shared journey,”
Kagwe concluded.
“We have made a bold step, and
with continued public support, the sugar belt will thrive once again.”
Kagwe said the leasing is a
product of extensive stakeholder engagement dating as far back as 2015.
