KENYA – The Kenya Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee has announced the suspension of sugar imports into the country, citing a significant rise in domestic production as the primary reason for the directive.
Raymond Omollo, the Interior Principal Secretary and chair of the committee, issued the directive to border management committee chairpersons across 27 regions to enforce the ban.
Omollo highlighted the ongoing reforms within the sugar industry, stating, “In light of the ongoing reforms within the sugar industry, it is evident that domestic sugar production is currently sufficient to meet national demand.”
According to data from the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), local sugar production saw substantial increases in June and July 2024, with averages of 75,500 metric tonnes and 80,500 metric tonnes per month, respectively.
Kenya’s annual sugar consumption is 1.1 million metric tonnes, with an average monthly consumption of 80,000 metric tonnes.
The suspension of sugar imports comes as part of broader efforts to protect and sustain the growth of the domestic sugar industry.
Omollo emphasized the importance of supporting the ongoing revival of sugar mills, which is expected to further enhance the industry’s growth and bolster the economies of sugarcane-farming communities.
“To sustain this positive trajectory, it is essential to protect the industry by halting sugar imports,” he stated in a letter dated August 22, 2024.
In addition to the import ban, Omollo directed border management committee chairpersons to collaborate within the multi-agency framework to conduct raids on illegal sugar imports.
The chairpersons are also required to provide updates on the matter and submit monthly reports to the Border Management Secretariat.
The suspension follows concerns raised by cane farmers over declining sugarcane prices.
In August, the AFA reduced the price millers were required to pay farmers from KES 5,125 to KES 4,950 (US$38.45) per tonne, attributing the decline to increased cane production since the resumption of milling in December 2023.
However, after farmer protests, the government revised the price upward to KES 5,000 (US$38.84) per tonne, effective August 22, 2024.
Additionally, farmers are set to receive bonuses for their produce as part of the government’s ongoing reforms.
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