Governor Anyang Nyong’o has differed with the national government over plans to lease several sugar mills in Kisumu County.

In a heavily worded statement on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the governor termed the move as a ploy to condemn the residents to abject poverty, land grabbing and ethnic upheavals.

“Today, as the County Government of Kisumu, we are dismayed to learn that the planned leasing of Chemelil Sugar Factory and Muhoroni Sugar Factory has been fast-tracked and finalised. This has happened with no proper stakeholder involvement and under a cloak of secrecy,” Nyong’o’s statement read in part.

He claimed that plans were at an advanced stage to lease Chemelil Sugar Factory to Kibos Sugar & Allied Industries Ltd for 30 years. He further reported that Muhoroni Sugar Company was lined up to be leased to the West Valley Sugar Company for 30 years.

“Further, we are gravely concerned that the prime nucleus land of Miwani Sugar Mills is being transferred through opaque arrangements to Crossley Holdings Limited, despite ongoing court litigation (Miwani Sugar Mills Limited & Ano vs Crossley Holdings Limited, Nagendra Saxena & others). This amounts to criminal activity, circumventing local demands and denying residents a say in the future of their land after the factory’s receivership,” Nyong’o contested.

No public input

He challenged the leasing, noting that it was shrouded in secrecy, with most residents not being involved in the process. Nyong’o, who serves as the acting ODM leader, indicated that the leasing plan is set to affect schools, homes, and other institutions.

“This is nothing short of daylight robbery, an economic coup against over 60,000 farmers, involving 15,000 hectares of farmland, essential public offices, churches, mosques, homes, and renowned learning institutions such as Chemelil Factory Primary, Muhoroni Primary, and Miwani Estate Primary School, alongside several ECD centres,” Nyong’o retorted.

“We firmly oppose this opaque lease plan, which ignores the social fabric, existing infrastructure, and public interests in sugar belt sub-counties—Muhoroni, Kisumu East, and Nyando. The plan threatens to dismantle community livelihoods and invites monopolistic exploitation.”

Without mincing his words, he blamed the Ministry of Agriculture for being behind the scheme to lease the sugar mills without properly considering their demands.

“The 30-year leases will disenfranchise local farmers, robbing them of land and economic autonomy. This is unconstitutional and violates Articles 10, 11, 60, and 62, which guarantee public participation, transparency, and land protection.

“Agriculture is a devolved function under Schedule 4 of the Constitution. Any national action excluding county input is unconstitutional. Lands used by public factories (Chemelil: 2,779 hectares, Muhoroni: 1,600 hectares, Miwani: 11,000 hectares) are public land, administered by the National Land Commission but held in trust by County Governments,” Nyong’o, who recently blasted President William Ruto for undermining devolution, reiterated.

Demands

In the statement, Nyong’o demanded the immediate halt of the leasing process, insisting that legal action would be taken to help stop the process.

“We must broaden civil society participation, conduct public rallies, and ensure a transparent, inclusive process—aligned with past public memoranda submitted to the Privatisation Commission,” he demanded.

He also implored the county assembly and residents to oppose the move.

The Kenya Kwanza administration had settled on the leasing route to revive the sugar industry sector in the country. During his recently concluded Migori tour, Ruto said illegal acts by the plant’s management had left thousands of cane farmers languishing in poverty and despair.

“We are going to lease the mills to serious investors. Every month, farmers will be paid for their cane, just like tea, coffee, maize, and wheat farmers.” He revealed.

PRESS STATEMENT

Widows of the Sugar Belt: The Leasing of the Sugar Mills in Kisumu County and the Sure Return to Abject Rural Poverty, Land Grab, and Ethnic Upheavals – Why the Lease Transition Must Be Halted

In 2016, as the Senator of Kisumu County, together with my fallen… pic.twitter.com/eoqty792IN

— Gov. Anyang' Nyong'o (@AnyangNyongo) May 7, 2025