Farmers and residents from the sugarcane-growing areas of Muhoroni, Chemelil, and Miwani in Kisumu county will hold a peaceful demonstration on Monday to protest what they term as the controversial leasing of the millers.
In a letter to the OCS Koru, the Nyando Sugar Belt Stakeholder Committee notified the police of the planned protest and requested security and support.
The demonstration will start at 10 am and run until 4 pm, with protest routes set from Chemelil roundabout to Chemelil Sugar Company and from Kamkunji grounds to Muhoroni Sugar Company.
The committee expressed concern over what they termed as an opaque and irregular leasing process carried out without meaningful stakeholder engagement, proper legal procedure, or approval from county assemblies.
Muhoroni and Chemelil sugar companies have long been central to the livelihoods of thousands of families in the region.
However, years of financial instability and mismanagement have left them in dire need of revival. While leasing has been seen as a potential solution, local stakeholders say they have been sidelined in key decisions.
“We, the residents of these sugar zones, are dissatisfied with the irregular takeover of our sugar factories. The leasing has been shrouded in secrecy and done without proper consultation. It is not only unlawful but also betrays the interests of farmers and local communities,” said Charles Atiang, the committee coordinator.
According to the stakeholders, the leasing process, which was expected to take at least six months, was mysteriously concluded in just two weeks.
They allege that key steps such as pre-bid meetings, bid opening, and evaluations were either skipped or concealed from the public, creating suspicion and exclusion.
“This entire process creates a monopoly, something that farmers vehemently opposed from the beginning,” Atiang said.
“Worse still, some of the companies awarded leases have a questionable history, including allegations of manipulating weighbridge scales and burning cane to profit from contracted loans.”
Farmers have for long raised concerns that private millers deduct nearly two tons per tractor load at weighbridges, reducing their earnings significantly.
In some cases, farmers are paid less than Sh1,000 per ton after deductions, often for fires allegedly set by the companies themselves.
“We’re being robbed through the back door. When cane burns, the cost is unjustly passed to the farmer at Sh800 per ton from gross payments. This exploitation must stop,” a farmer who asked not to be named said.
While the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary has promised weekly payments to farmers, locals argue that the CS has been misled about the real challenges in the sugar value chain.
“This isn’t just about money. It’s about fairness, accountability, and the future of sugar farming in Kenya,” Atiang said.
Stakeholders are now calling on the CS to visit successful sugar operations like Illovo Sugar in Kilombero, Tanzania, to understand the kind of transformative investment they had hoped for.
“What we needed was an international investor to inject modern technology, skilled management, and fresh capital. Tanzania is now miles ahead because their government put farmers first. We deserve the same,” Atiang said.
The protestors have committed to a peaceful demonstration and have requested adequate security from the police.
by FAITH MATETE
