Mumias Sugar Company has been accused of harvesting sugarcane from a farm without the owner’s consent. Guarded workers on Wednesday stormed an 11-acre farm at Shibale and harvested cane.
The owner, Channan Agricultural Contractors, was reportedly not informed. “We have been managing cane on private terms and our intention was to supply to the Kibos Sugar Factory, but it was a shock to learn that cane cutters from Mumias have harvested the product without our consent,” CAC farm manager Kennedy Njuguna said.
Cane poaching has been rampant in the region, with Mumias Sugar accusing rivals of encroaching on its territory. Board chairman Dan Ameyo said cane poaching is affecting the company’s crushing capacity. Mumias Sugar director of communications Moses Owino confirmed the company harvested the cane, but denied it was poaching.
