This archive report was first published on 7 August 2020.
On August 7, 2020, a heated debate erupted in Busia County over a petition by Kenya Sugar Manufacturers Association (KESMA) Chairman Jayant Patel to the Ministry of Agriculture to lift the ban on sugar cane importation.
Patel's move has been met with fierce resistance from sugarcane farmers and millers from the region, who claim it is a ploy to kill local production and benefit sugar cartels seeking to smuggle cheap sugar and cane from neighbouring Uganda.
According to the farmers, the move is a clear attempt to undermine local production and benefit those seeking to import cheap sugar and cane from Uganda at the expense of local farmers.
Busia Sugar Industry, a firm at the centre of the controversy, has been accused of shifting its goalposts in a move aimed at benefiting illegal importers.
“Busia Sugar Company were among those fighting for Zoning. So what has happened between last year and today? I wonder if Uganda was part of their Zoning,” said Olepito Sugar Factory general manager Gerald Okoth.
Okoth also faulted Patel for failing to consult stakeholders and members of the association before writing to the ministry.
“Stakeholders and members were not consulted and don’t support the lifting of the importation ban on the cane.”
Farmer George Okwara accused KMSA of working with cartels to fleece local cane farmers, adding that the firm reduced tonnage prices for farmers because it was importing from Uganda.
“There is no sugarcane shortage in the region, if there is any, it has been created by Busia Sugar Industry that has heavily relied on cheap importation from Uganda,” said Okwara.
Amakura Central MCA Moses Ouma, who is also a cane farmer, questioned the awarding of business licensing and permits to Busia Sugar Industry despite its failure to invest in local cane development.
“A tonne is Sh2000 in Uganda. If you allowed me to import, obviously I’ll take from Uganda thereby killing local production since local tonnage is Sh3,700,” Ouma said.
The farmers have called on the government to investigate the operations of companies that don’t have the cane and to support CS Munya’s move to ban the importation of cheap sugar from Uganda.
