As Kenyans grapple with the high cost of sugar with a 2kg pack costing around KSh 500, the Mumias Sugar brand is set to be back on the shelves and farmers supplying mature cane will be paid in seven days without delay.
As KBC Digital reports, the company has recalled 787 former employees with more workers expected to report on Monday, December 4, in the sugar packing area.
Mumias Sugar began operations again on December 1, after milling was suspended on July 13, 2023, for lack of mature cane.
Operations and Administration Manager Stephen Kihumba promised farmers that the miller would be paying them for supplying cane after seven days without any delays, and the price for a tonne of sugarcane is set at Ksh 6,050.
Kihumba said, “Cane development is key for us. For this company to be sustained, we need to get farmers on board. We want to tell them it is time they go back to their farms, they will earn better, they will be paid promptly and will get sufficient support.”
Mumias Sugar Company woes
Mumias Sugar Company has had a rough patch with its woes going back to 2012. The entity has had debts amounting to billions of shillings, which crippled operations at the plant. With farmers being on the losing end, some of them have had to sell their cane to other companies in the region and brokers.
There has also been a leadership crisis at the company that made things worse. The struggles of Mumias Sugar have caused an uproar from leaders and residents in the region. This saw President William Ruto step in to discuss the debt issues affecting the company to ensure operations resume.
Mumias Sugar Company was the pride of western Kenya before its problems began, with employees losing jobs and registered farmers having nowhere to sell their cane.
As farmers anticipate to benef from the resumption of operations at Mumias Sugar, Kenyans wait to see if this will lower sugar prices in the country.
Sugar millers in western Kenya had to halt operations from mid-July to September this year following a lack of mature cane, which caused the skyrocketing of sugar prices in the country.
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