The government will clear all outstanding payments owed to workers in public sugar factories in due course, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Sen. Mutahi Kagwe has affirmed.
Speaking during a meeting with the Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers, the Kenya Sugar Board, and representatives of the four leased sugar factories, the CS underscored that settling workers’ arrears remains a priority for the administration.
“We are not refusing to pay. We are working within fiscal realities, but every shilling due will be honoured,” he said, assuring that both employee rights and welfare will be fully respected. “This office remains open and fully committed to ensuring workers and farmers receive what they are owed.”The CS noted that the payment programme is already underway, adding that the government has also begun clearing longstanding dues owed to sugarcane farmers.
He emphasised the administration’s commitment to reviving the sugar industry, stating that the leasing of key state-owned factories marks a strategic shift toward sustainability, efficiency, and job creation.
Kagwe revealed that the majority of workers from the factories will be re-absorbed by private operators who have taken over the mills, with others exiting through retirement.
While highlighting the importance of private sector participation in reviving the sugar industry, the CS issued a set of directives to ensure accountability and smooth operations across the sector.
These include immediate commencement of full operations in all leased factories, urgent repairs at the facilities, and strict adherence to investment commitments by the lessees.
To safeguard farmers and maintain order in the sector, the CS further directed that only the CEO of the Kenya Sugar Board may authorize weighbridge operations.
Unauthorized weighbridges, he warned, will not be tolerated, and disruptions to cane zoning and harvesting areas will be firmly addressed. Weighbridges for millers operating outside their catchment areas shall be closed with immediate effect.
Kagwe reaffirmed that the government’s agenda for the sugar belt is anchored in restoring industry confidence, protecting livelihoods, and ensuring fair and transparent operations across the value chain.
