Ruth Odinga demands probe into Chemelil Academy attack and sugar factory operations
By Viola Kosome, June 21, 2026Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has called for a comprehensive investigation into the violent attack on Chemelil Sugar Academy, linking the incident to rising tensions surrounding the leasing of state-owned sugar factories in the Nyando sugar belt.
In a press statement on Sunday, June 21, 2026, Odinga said the June 18, 2026, raid on the institution should not be treated as an isolated criminal act, but rather as a symptom of deeper disputes emerging within communities affected by ongoing restructuring in the sugar industry.
The attack occurred as learners resumed studies from the half-term break, when a group of between 20 and 30 armed men allegedly stormed the school, triggering panic and disrupting learning activities.
How attackers accessed the school
According to Odinga, the attackers forced their way through the main gate before breaking into the offices of the principal and deputy principal. Four members of staff sustained injuries after being assaulted, though no learners were harmed. All 457 students enrolled at the institution were later confirmed safe.
Odinga commended the police for their swift response, which led to the arrest of three suspects, but urged investigators to pursue additional suspects and identify those who orchestrated the attack.
She argued that preliminary indications point to an ongoing dispute over school accounts and fee collection processes, which she linked to wider struggles over the management and control of Chemelil Sugar Company.
“I am calling for a full investigation into this attack that traces it back to its true origin: the conflict between the new management at Chemelil Sugar Company and the institutions and communities around it,” Odinga stated.
Leasing of Muhoroni Sugar Company
The Woman Representative further linked the unrest at Chemelil Sugar Academy to broader instability in the sugar belt following the leasing of state-owned sugar factories to private operators.
She noted that workers and farmers in Muhoroni had initially welcomed the leasing of Muhoroni Sugar Company, hoping it would revive operations after years of financial difficulties under government management.
However, she alleged that the transition has led to widespread dissatisfaction, claiming that the workforce had been reduced from more than 1,000 employees to about 300.
Odinga further alleged that trade unions had been sidelined, while remaining workers were facing heavier workloads and reduced earnings.
“What happened at Chemelil mirrors what has already been happening in Muhoroni. Workers and farmers there welcomed the leasing of Muhoroni Sugar Company with real hope, after years of mismanagement under state ownership. That hope has been betrayed,” Odinga stated.