Kenya Sugar Millers Association (KESMA), has appointed former Sony Sugar managing director Stephen Ligawa as its new CEO.

KESMA chairperson Jayanti Patel on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, said Ligawa brings over 30 years’ experience in the industry having worked at Sony Sugar for all the years.

Ligawa takes over from advocate Saulo Wasilwa who principally served in 2022 and left for other legal duties.

“We are happy to bring Ligawa on board to run the sugar manufacturer’s secretariat,” Patel said.

Prior to his new role, he served for two months at the new Angata Sugar factory in Narok County before KESMA tapped him.

Ligawa will be expected to provide leadership to KESMA and help the agency to champion sound sugar policies as the link with the government and industry investors and manufacturers both new and coming up ones among other roles.

Ligawa on state of roads

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, Ligawa promised to pursue the poor state of roads as his top agenda as he settles in office.

The roads leading to and out of the sugar industry have been a bane in hauling cane in the industry.

The poor state of roads is causing the millers and farmers massive losses due to cane spillage and consequently increasing the cost of production.

“The poor road conditions have led to frequent breakdown of cane transportation vehicles, increased fuel consumption and caused significant delays in cane delivery to the factories,” he said.

KESMA’s appeal

Consequently, KESMA appealed to Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERA), to intervene to repair the roads through a letter copied to the Sugar Directorate boss Jude Chesire and the Director General National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

KESMA wants KERA to consider implementing emergency road repairs and maintenance to restore the roads to a usable condition ensuring the safe and efficient transportation of cane.

They also want a long-term infrastructure improvement plan in the sugar belt to prevent recurrent road damage and to minimize losses as a result of cane spillage while in transit to the sugar factories.

“We want a system of regular monitoring and maintenance of the roads to ensure they remain in good condition to support the demands of the industry,” Ligawa said.

Over the last twenty years, KESMA observed that new sugar factories have been opened in all sugar-growing areas with poor feeder roads and still old and poorly maintained murrum roads.

“The sugar industry can’t bear the burden placed upon it by poor infrastructure. Immediate action is required to mitigate these challenges and support growth and sustainability of this critical sub-sector,” Ligawa said.

The KESMA official also asked MPs to FastTrack the enactment of Sugar Bill 2022 into law to provide a framework for long-term infrastructure improvement in the sugar industry.

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