Recent data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has sparked concerns among consumers over potential sugar price increases. However, the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) has reassured Kenyans that supply remains secure and there is no cause for panic.

In a notice issued on Thursday, January 22, 2026, the Board emphasised that the country’s sugar supply is resilient, despite challenges caused by weather conditions, rising demand, and a transition in the industry.

“Recent economic indicators from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) have raised concerns over potential increases in sugar prices in supermarkets and shops countrywide. We wish to assure Kenyans that there is no cause for panic and continue buying sugar with confidence,” Jude Chesire, KSB CEO, said.

The Board noted that national sugar production in 2025 fell to 613,000 metric tonnes, meeting only 61 per cent of the country’s demand of 1.2 million metric tonnes. This was a drop from 815,000 metric tonnes produced in 2024, a decline attributed to industry reforms and temporary disruptions in production.

“The reduced output was not caused by a single factor, but by a combination of weather stress, deliberate protection of future cane, and structural reforms designed to secure the long-term survival of the sugar industry,” Chesire explained.

The Board highlighted key factors behind the lower output, including a cane maturity profile that saw significant portions of the crop still developing, temporary closure and rehabilitation of sugar factories, and dry weather conditions in key growing zones.

“To ensure stability, the government and industry regulators have put in place market stabilisation measures to ensure sugar remains available, prices remain predictable, and consumers are protected from artificial shortages and speculation, even as production recovers and dry conditions persist in early 2026,” Chesire said.

Farmers remain central to the recovery strategy, with programs funded by the KSh 1.2 billion Sugar Development Levy supporting cane development, expansion of cultivation areas, and introduction of early-maturing varieties.

“Millions of tonnes of cane are already in the ground supported by millers, with harvesting and milling projected to resume strongly from October–November 2026, marking the beginning of a sustained rebound in domestic production,” Chesire added.

The KSB reaffirmed that the reforms are permanent and the sugar sector is being rebuilt to meet both current and future demand, assuring Kenyans that prices will remain stable as the recovery progresses.