Sugarcane farmers in Kakamega have begun receiving payments from state-owned sugar mills, though reports indicate some received only partial amounts of their outstanding debts.
President Uhuru Kenyatta directed Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich to audit farmers and settle Sh2.6 billion in arrears during last year's Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kakamega. The Treasury released Sh1.9 billion last week, covering deliveries made between 2014 and 2019.
Officials confirmed that funds were transferred directly to farmers' bank accounts. However, some recipients disputed the amounts credited. Alexander Chweya, a Mumias Sugar contractor, reported receiving Sh100,000 instead of the Sh500,000 he claimed was owed. Micah Mayabi, another farmer, received Sh11,000 for deliveries over a year old, while Francis Isongo found Sh19,000 in his account for a debt dating to 2016.
Despite mixed experiences, many farmers expressed relief. Mayabi said the payment would help cover school fees, while Isongo planned to repay debts and prepare his land for planting. However, others like Robert Namatsi remained unpaid, expecting Sh780,000 for cane supplied over three years.
The Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers urged the government to expedite full payments, citing ongoing complaints from farmers owed large sums. The sugar sector task force, tasked with reviving the industry, faces pressure to accelerate its report to address systemic challenges.
