President William Ruto has stated that all 17 sugar factories across the country are now operational.

Speaking during the State of the Nation Address on Thursday, November 21, 2024, the Head of State revealed that an additional four new sugar factories are under construction.

Ruto on sugar production

President Ruto stated that the operational sugar factories are producing at impressive levels.

“In the sugar sector, we have achieved a historic milestone. All 17 sugar factories across the country are now operational, producing at impressive levels, while four new sugar factories are under construction,” President Ruto said.

He further stated that the domestic sugar production reached 84,000 metric tonnes in the month of July alone, surpassing the national monthly consumption average of 40,000 metric tonnes.

Local demand

Ruto went ahead to say that the country is producing enough sugar to meet local demand for the first time in history.

The first in command attributed the achievement to various factors, including the subsidised fertiliser for
sugarcane farmers, an additional 500,000 acres of land that was brought under production, and improved management of the sugar sector.

Moreover, Ruto noted that he has signed the new sugar law that aims at providing further policy guidance to the sugar sector, as Kenya seeks to be a sugar exporting country.

“In July alone, domestic sugar production reached 84,000 metric tonnes, surpassing the national monthly consumption average of 40,000 metric tonnes. For the first time in recent history, Kenya is producing enough sugar to meet local demand.

“This success is attributed to subsidised fertiliser for sugarcane farmers, an additional 500,000 acres of land brought under production, and improved management of the sector, which have revitalised production and brought the industry back to life. I just signed the new sugar law to provide further policy guidance, as we seek to be a sugar exporting country,” President Ruto stated.

Sugar production capacity

A report by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) on the local sugar industry production released in August 2024 indicates that the West Kenya Sugar factory led in the production capacity in the period under review with 97,260 tonnes followed by Naitiri (65,420 tonnes); Kibos (57,000 tonnes); Butali (53,204 tonnes) followed a distant fifth by Transmara with 38,435 tonnes.

Nzoia sugar, Chemili, South Nyanza (Sony) Muhoroni and Mumias fell in the list of millers at the bottom of production with  11,605, 17,575, 16,610, 11,984 and 24,397 tonnes respectively.

The authority said cane prices also dropped from a high of Ksh6050 per tonne to the current Ksh4,950.