For years, contracted Nzoia Sugar farmers exhibited unwavering loyalty towards the miller.
Despite enduring for months or years without pay for the cane delivered to the factory, the farmers could not afford to take their crop to alternative miller.
Taking sugarcane to another miller within the region would amount to betrayal.
However, Nzoia Sugar loyal farmers are already shifting their allegiance to West Kenya Sugar Company that has leased Nzoia Sugar for 30 years.
They are upbeat that West Kenya Sugar will bring back the good old days in Nzoia Sugar.
Rose Waswa is one of the sugarcane farmers from Bukembe, Bungoma county who religiously supplied her cane to Nzoia Sugar.
She has been a cane farmer for more than two decades with Nzoia Sugar. The 55-year-old widow is among many farmers waiting to be paid their arrears for the cane they delivered more than one year ago.
Waswa recalled how two of her children discontinued their higher learning over lack of school fees. She had supplied cane to Nzoia Sugar whose payment is yet to be made.
“My children had to drop out of school because I could not pay for their fee when my husband died and the payment for cane delivered to Nzoia sugar was not forthcoming,” Waswa said.
“I am happy that the company that has acquired Nzoia Sugar is known for paying farmers weekly for cane delivered so we are guaranteed of prompt payment and this is exactly what we the farmers who were contracted to Nzoia Sugar were looking for,” she added.
Waswa slammed politicians who have come out to contest the leasing of Nzoia Sugar and noted they were not being sincere.
Her sentiments were echoed by Godfrey Barasa also a cane farmer in Bungoma county. Barasa accused some politicians for politicing the leasing of Nzoia Sugar.
“It is now clear that these politicians do not want farmers to be paid weekly but to see us languish in poverty after supplying cane that is why they want the status quo to remain,” Barasa said.
He continued,” The days of using Nzoia Sugar as a campaign tool to seek for elective positions is long gone because we the farmers will never again demonstrate over lack payment under West Kenya Sugar management in Nzoia Sugar.”
John Wekesa also a cane farmer said, “The track record of West Kenya Sugar that has taken over Nzoia is good. I have never seen any of their contracted farmer or worker demonstrate over lack of payment.”
He continued,” I am surprised that our politicians are attacking the owner of West Kenya Sugar who mean well for this region. Western’s economy is growing because of Rai’s factories. We shall support him to revive Nzoia Sugar.”
Bukembe East MCA Caleb Wanjala whose ward plays host to Nzoia Sugar has weighed into the matter. Wanjala wants politicians to stop inciting his electorate to demonstrate.
“We are peaceful people, let those politicians stop inciting people. What farmers want is payment for the cane they delivered and the workers also be paid not unnecessary politics,” Wanjala said.
Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka on Wednesday said farmers who supplied sugarcane to Nzoia sugar last week, will be paid this week.
“The reality will dawn on some of these politicians playing politics with the lives of Nzoia Sugar farmers and workers once they receive their payment,” Lusaka said.
As one way of turning around the cash-strapped state-owned sugar mills, the government has opted to lease them to private millers.
The government has since leased Nzoia Sugar to West Kenya Sugar Company, a move Waswa says will return the good old days in Nzoia Sugar.
At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture assured that the money owed to the farmers and workers will be settled by the national government.
“The ministry shall remain responsible for all unpaid salary arrears, pension contribution and statutory deductions up to the lease handover date,” read the statement by Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe in part.
“Sh1 billion to be paid to workers upon takeover (600 million to pay part of the staff arrears and remaining Sh400 million to pay salary as from the month of May 2025,” the statement read further.
