President William Ruto announced a fresh plan to lease the mill after a court case that had been blocking the process was dismissed. Speaking on Friday during his week-long tour of Bungoma town, the President emphasized the urgency of bringing in a strategic partner to take over management of the factory, a vital institution in Western Kenya’s sugar industry.
The President explained that the previous bid process to secure a strategic investor had been canceled, but a new process to identify a partner would be launched in the coming two months. He assured farmers, workers, and the wider community that his administration was committed to restoring Nzoia Sugar’s operational capacity. “I will not allow cartels opposing the lease of Nzoia Sugar to derail this process. We will deal with them decisively,” Ruto asserted, highlighting his government’s resolve to deal with entrenched interests that have hindered the factory’s revival.
Ruto also stressed the economic importance of Nzoia Sugar to the region and Kenya at large, claiming that if the revitalization effort succeeds, Kenya could become one of the world’s top sugar exporters. He further assured that efforts would be made to ensure farmers and workers receive timely payments for their services, an issue that has plagued the mill in recent years due to mismanagement.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula confirmed the President’s remarks, stating that the privatization process for Nzoia Sugar was already underway following the court’s dismissal of the case blocking the leasing. Wetangula appealed to those opposing the privatization to reconsider their stance for the sake of the struggling farmers. “The world is changing, and they should allow efforts to revitalize the mill for the benefit of suffering farmers,” Wetangula urged.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka voiced the county’s full support for the initiative, pointing out the severe economic challenges the region has faced due to the collapse of Nzoia Sugar. “The county has suffered due to the collapse of Nzoia, as it was one of our key sources of revenue. We will support any initiative put in place to revive the mill,” Lusaka stated.
Senator Wafula Wakoli also weighed in, citing corruption as a key factor in the factory’s decline. He welcomed the President’s plan to overhaul the mill’s management, stating that those opposing the revival were short-sighted and selfish. As the push to rejuvenate Nzoia Sugar gains momentum, it holds the promise of a brighter future for the community and the local economy.
