ODM leader Raila Odinga with Kenya Sugar Board chairperson Eng Nicholas Gumbo who paid him a courtesy call at his private office in Nairobi, May 14, 2025. /HANDOUTODM leader Raila Odinga has assured full support of ongoing reforms in the sugar sector geared towards revamping the country's millers to profitability.
Raila is a key player in the broad-based government following the signing of a working partnership with President William Ruto, whose Kenya Kwanza administration is championing the reforms.
The government on Friday formalised the long-awaited leasing of four public sugar factories, marking a turning point in efforts to breathe life back into the once-thriving sugar sector.
Operations of Nzoia, Chemelil, Sony, and Muhoroni sugar companies were handed over to private millers under a 30-year lease.
The move sparked uproar from leaders in cane-growing counties who continue to call on the government to cancel the leases, citing among reasons, lack of proper stakeholder engagement.
"This is nothing short of daylight robbery and economic coup de etat," Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, a Raila ally, said.
But on Wednesday, Raila affirmed his resolve to support the reforms in the sugar sector when the Kenya Sugar Board led by chairperson Nicholas Gumbo, paid him a courtesy call in his Nairobi office.
A statement released by his communication team said the ODM leader assured the board of his willingness to offer counsel whenever called upon.
"The Rt Hon Raila is a key stakeholder in the sugar value chain. They briefed him on the ongoing reforms in the sugar subsector, which aim to steer the subsector back to the path of growth and attainment of domestic self-sufficiency while ensuring maximum returns for all the players," the statement said.
Gumbo was accompanied by fellow board member Adan Sheikh.
Raila's team said he shared valuable insights with the visitors drawn from his many years of involvement in the sugar subsector in various capacities.
He urged the board to remain focused on its core mandate of ensuring the country attains self-sufficiency through domestic production while transferring maximum benefits to farmers, millers, and all stakeholders.
"He assured the board of his full support for the reforms being undertaken and expressed his readiness to be available to offer advice whenever required," the statement said.
On Monday, Ruto and Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe revoked the appointment of board chairs and members of four leased sugar factories and named new faces in their stead.
UDA official in Homa Bay, Silas Jakakimba, who was serving as the board member of South Nyanza Sugar Company Limited (Sony) was among the casualties.
Jakakimba is a former Raila ally and long-serving aide who shifted camp to the ruling UDA in March, 2023.
At Sony, Kagwe also axed Mary Akoth Were, Laura Abishag Matiko, Catherine Wangamati, Kipkoech Kirui, John Billy Momanyi and Douglas Kailanya.
At Chemelil, Samwel Ogola Bonyo, Mary Simat, Henry Ntongai Mitu, David Kiplagat Kitur, Enricah Apiyo Dulo and John Kipyegon Chesiror were dropped.
Elizabeth Iminza, Patrice Chumba, Millicent Abudho, Benson Chahasi, Caroline Temoi, Bonface Otsiula, and Okwakau Jonathan were equally dropped as members of the Board of Directors of Nzoia Sugar Company.
Amid the ongoing reforms, opposition leaders continue to call on the government to rethink the leasing of the sugar millers "until all the legal and constitutional dictates are addressed and aligned".
"In the absence of which we shall support legal measures to redress this criminality, demanding the suspension of the leasing programme," Nyong'o said.
DAP-K leader Eugene backed the sentiments and asked the President to heed the advice.
"Like you dropped corrupt Adani JKIA/KETRACO 30-year lease deals, drop the 30-year public sugar companies lease deals without public participation as demanded by courts, political parties, religious leaders, governors, senators, MPs, MCAs, farmers, youth, and elders," he wrote on X.
Wamalwa and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya have been vocal about opposing the lease deal and on Monday attempted to lead a march to Nzoia Sugar Company but were teargassed by police enroute to the miller in Bukembe, Bungoma county.
Despite the push-back, the Kenya Sugar Board has defended the government’s decision to lease the sugar factories.
Speaking on Tuesday during a meeting in Nairobi, board CEO Jude Chesire said that the leasing model has been designed with farmers at the core.
“Farmers come first. If investors leasing sugar factories fail to modernise mills, support cane development, or pay farmers weekly as agreed, the government will revoke their leases. Simple!”
Chesire explained that the 30-year term is justified by the expected heavy capital injection, but if the lessees fail to deliver, the contracts will be terminated and handed over "to those who truly prioritize our farmers.”
