Kisumu county Agriculture CEC Kenneth Onyango during a flagging off, as Chemeli sugar company begins operations./FAITH MATETE
Chemelil Sugar Factory roared back to life on Tuesday in a long-awaited milestone for Kenya’s sugar belt, as Kibos Sugar Company officially relaunched operations at the once-ailing state mill.
The revival hailed as a major turning point in the government’s sugar sector reforms that drew praise from farmers, local leaders and industry players.
Kibos Group Managing Director Bhire Chatthe called it “a day of celebration” after months of intense negotiations, repairs and coordinated technical work that restored the iconic mill to full function.
“I would fail if I don’t acknowledge all the effort that has been put in by Jassi Chatthe, Chemelil MD ever since we took over Chemelil Sugar Company as a family and as a group. Jessie, well done.”
He went on to commend the entire multidisciplinary team, factory staff, human resource officers, engineers, environment officers, suppliers and contractors, who he said had “worked around the clock” to ensure Chemelil resumed operations smoothly.
He recognised contributions from teams drawn from Kibos, who handled logistics, value chain operations, and plant rehabilitation.
“New people have come in, we’ve had an immense, diverse team that has worked tirelessly,” he said.
“To all those who kept praying for the revival of Chemelil, without which we would not have seen this day, thank you.”
Among the concerns raised by farmers during the event was the state of access roads, which has long hindered cane delivery.
Bhire acknowledged the frustrations but cautioned against resorting to legal action.
“I’d like to request our able chairman of the cane cutting organization to desist from going to court. Court is no solution,” he said.
“The solution is always in conversation. County governments have their challenges, but let’s engage. We will find a win-win situation.”
The MD said the company would also engage the Sugar Development Levy board and other authorities to prioritize road rehabilitation and stabilise cane supply in the region.
Responding to reports of waste discharge into a nearby river, Bhire directed the environmental department to investigate immediately.
“We heard one of the first speakers talk about some wastage going into a river. Please make sure nothing goes unnoticed,” he said.
He emphasized Chemelil’s unique geographical position, sitting at the intersection of three major counties, which brings both opportunities and risks.
He called for continuous coordination with security teams and local administrations to maintain harmony and manage expectations around employment and resource allocation.
Bhire further highlighted Kibos Sugar Group’s global recognition for achieving what he called a complete circular economy.
“We are the only sugar mill in the whole world that has got a full circular economy, and we take pride that it is based in Kibos in this county,” he said.
Bhire assured farmers of consistent payment, recounting how Kibos pioneered prompt-pay systems more than a decade ago, systems that are now part of Kenyan law.
“Our stakeholders mean more than anything to us. Please be rest assured of your payment,” he stated.
The MD praised both national and county governments for supporting the transfer of struggling public sugar mills to private hands, a move he described as bold but necessary.
“It is a very tough decision because it has immense challenges, but it needed bold leadership,” he said.
Bhire further thanking Chemelil farmers and staff for their support and urging continued cooperation as the company embarks on the second phase of modernization.
“This is now the beginning. We have done the first phase; now we need to get to the second phase so that we can take Chemelil back to the top,” he said.
“We must carry on with the motto: Chemelil back to the top.”
