Nzoia sugarcane farmers led by Rose Waswa speaking on May 13, 2025 / ScreengrabNzoia sugar farmers have welcomed the move by the government to lease sugar factories to private millers.
The Nzoia farmers said the leasing of the sugar factories will help them get paid their dues.
They dismissed Western leaders who are against the deal, saying they are not doing anything to help them when in power.
This is even as the government finalised the leasing of four state-owned sugar factories to private millers for a period of 30 years.
One of the cane farmers, Rose Waswa said she solely depends on sugarcane farming to feed her family, and any move to ease the process would be of great help.
"We have accepted the leasing of our factory to the private millers so that we can finally receive our long-awaited dues. Our goal is simple: To educate our children, uplift our families, and restore dignity to our lives. This decision is driven by hope, not politics,” Waswa said.
Waswa told off leaders who are against the move, saying sugar factory issues should not be politicised.
Another farmer said he supports the leasing because sugar factories have been dormant for a long time, with little or no benefits.
“Remove politics from sugar factories, you can politicise in Parliament, but not with our factory and Bungoma farmers. We want the factories to work so that we can cater for our children, but now we are stuck because we have no money,” he said.
The farmers vowed to back the deal, saying it will speed up their payment processes, which have been experiencing delays.
However, a section of leaders led by Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and DAP-K Party leader Eugene Wamalwa have opposed the leasing of the millers, particularly Nzoia Sugar Company.
On Monday, the group organised a march to the factory to throw out the new management, but they were stopped midway by armed police at Bukembe in Bungoma County.
Police fired teargas canisters to disperse them and their supporters.
Natembeya and Wamalwa were accompanied by Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga, former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, Bungoma gubernatorial aspirant Zachariah Barasa, and a host of MCAs.
The leaders resorted to venting their frustration and commented on the day's development via social media.
Natembeya said the Nzoia Sugar Company is a critical economic pillar for Western Kenya, supporting more than 45,000 farmers and providing livelihoods for millions directly and indirectly.
He said its lease to a private miller runs the risk of destabilising the economic livelihoods of the locals and the region at large.
While appearing before the National Assembly’s Agriculture Committee, Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe dismissed claims that the leasing process lacked transparency.
Kagwe also clarified that no sugar factory in Kenya has been sold. The CS said the government has only leased them out through a transparent process that received full parliamentary approval.
“No sugar factory has been sold. It’s leasing that has been done, and Parliament approved the whole process. I dismiss assertions that the process was opaque, considering all stakeholders were involved,” Kagwe said.
“We are ready to submit any document for scrutiny by Parliament and the general public, as requested by Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga to assure the public on the lease process.”
