Farmers and leaders clash over leasing of sugar mills

Workers at Chemelil Sugar protest against the takeover of the factory by Kibos Sugar under a 30-year leasing plan on May 13, 2025.

Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group

A section of cane farmers in Kisumu County’s Nyando sugar belt are expressing growing frustration over local political leaders criticising the national government’s decision to lease public sugar mills to private investors.

While the leasing has sparked backlash among political leaders from the region, some farmers have expressed confidence that the 30-year lease will revitalise the once-thriving sector.

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