West Kenya Sugar moves to revive Mumias distillery and co-generation plants
KENYA – West Kenya Sugar Company has initiated efforts to revive the distillery and co-generation plants at Mumias Sugar Company Limited, following a directive from President William Ruto.
The move is part of broader government-led reforms aimed at revitalizing Kenya’s sugar industry.
In a letter dated January 23, 2025, West Kenya Sugar reaffirmed its commitment to the revival project and requested permission to deploy security personnel to protect the plants. This is in addition to the security already provided by the Receiver Manager.
“On instructions of the Receiver Manager, this is to request you to please allow them unhindered access to the two plants aforesaid to enable them complete their assignment,” the letter stated.
It further requested approval for additional security deployment alongside the current provider, Total Security Surveillance.
The revival effort aligns with President Ruto’s broader sugar sector reforms, which he highlighted on January 20, 2025, during the launch of the first-ever bonus payments to farmers who supplied cane to Mumias Sugar.
The President emphasized that the bonus payout reflects the success of ongoing industry reforms aimed at improving farmers’ livelihoods.
As part of the 2019 Sugar Taskforce recommendations, Ruto announced that he had signed the Sugar Act 2024 into law.
The new legislation establishes sugarcane catchment areas to optimize supply management, synchronize milling operations, and improve efficiency across the sector.
Additionally, the government has introduced subsidized fertilizer programs to boost sugarcane productivity and increase farmers’ earnings.
President Ruto noted that Kenya produced a record 832,000 metric tonnes of sugar in 2024 and anticipates continued growth, with the goal of achieving surplus production by 2026 to enable exports to regional markets.
To further support the sector, the government has allocated Kes 600 million to the Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute (KESRETI) for the development of superior cane varieties.
Moreover, a debt write-off amounting to Kes 67 billion (US$518.4 million) has been approved for five state-owned sugar companies.
Meanwhile, Muwariziki Sugar Millers Limited announced plans to invest Kes 1.5 billion (US$11.52 million) in constructing a new sugar factory in Rangwe Sub-County, Homabay County.
The facility aims to enhance domestic sugar production, reduce import reliance, and spur economic growth in the region.
Kenya’s efforts to boost local production are yielding results, with Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) data showing a 45 percent decline in sugar imports in the third quarter of 2024, dropping from 162,189.1 tonnes in 2023 to 88,372 tonnes.
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