Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula has assured the nation that the government is fully committed to reviving Kenya’s troubled sugar industry, a sector he described as vital to the livelihoods of thousands of farmers, reports The Star.
Speaking after a meeting with President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi—attended by Members of Parliament from key sugar-producing regions—Wetang’ula highlighted the government’s determination to turn around the industry.
“The message was clear: sugarcane must no longer be a symbol of hardship; it must be a source of prosperity,” he said.
He promised that reforms would benefit farmers from across the country, including Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Nyanza, and other sugar belt regions.
Wetang’ula said the government plans to restore public trust in sugar factories by ensuring timely payments to farmers and by introducing professional management to improve efficiency and accountability.
“‘Sweetening Kenya’ is more than a slogan,” he added. “It is a national call to uplift our rural economies and empower the very people who feed this nation.”
As part of these efforts, sugarcane farmers received good news last month when the Kenya Sugar Board raised the official price of cane from Sh5,300 to Sh5,500 per tonne. The new price, which took effect on May 26, 2025, follows a revised payment formula aimed at boosting farmer incomes. The model had been approved earlier in February this year.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Kipronoh Ronoh has directed all 15 licensed millers—including recently leased state-owned factories—to comply with the new minimum price.
President Ruto, who also addressed the meeting, reiterated the government’s resolve to make the sugar industry a reliable part of the country’s economy.
“Sugarcane will no longer be seen as a poverty crop,” he said. “We are sustaining reforms in the sector to inject the much-needed professionalism, sound management, and efficiency.”
