This archive report was first published on 12 June 2021.
West Kenya's sugar industry is facing a crisis as cartels have invaded the region, frustrating farmers' operations and delivery to the Butali Sugar Company.
According to local leaders, the cartels have been interfering with cane harvesting, despite threats of a demonstration over delayed cutting of the mature crop.
Farmers have now protested to the Kenya National Association for Sugarcane Farmers (KNASF) Butali branch, demanding a meeting with union officials over the looming crisis.
KNASF branch secretary Ceasar Shiro confirmed that local farmers had raised complaints over the miller opting to harvest cane outside their nucleus.
"Butali is harvesting canes as far as Mumias and Nzoia and they have engaged private farmers who broker and transport the canes to the factory at a fee," Shiro said.
The practice has made the cane harvested outside their nucleus a lucrative business, with 10 lorries belonging to business people identified as having invaded the sugar transport industry.
Butali Sugar Cane Association manager Ceasar Shiro revealed that the transporters are brokering deals with outside farmers to have their cane harvested and transported to Butali at a fee.
Butali Sugar Company is pushing thousands of farmers against the wall after it was considered the best paying per tonnage.
Butali Sugarcane Farmers Association chairman William Kopi blamed the delay on the Coronavirus outbreak, which stagnated many operations including the Butali milling industry.
