For years, Atiang’ Atyang’ led efforts to rescue Kenya’s collapsing sugar industry as vast cane fields dwindled and farmers sought alternative livelihoods. Mismanagement, cheap imports, and factory closures left the Western Kenya sugar belt in disarray, triggering job losses, heavy debts, and despair. Despite repeated government interventions, every turnaround plan seemed futile.
However, things are changing under President William Ruto’s administration. According to Atiang’, the chairman of the Kenya Association of Sugarcane and Allied Products, reforms such as the rebirth of the Kenya Sugar Board, debt write-offs exceeding Sh65 billion, and fertiliser subsidies have revitalized the sector. “The industry is thriving. There is a future,” he said, urging stakeholders to maximise gains along the value chain.
Ruto’s government has also distributed Sh150 million in sugar bonuses, benefiting over 12,000 farmers, though critics have questioned its source and fairness. Despite opposition claims of political motives, supporters argue the bonus marks a turning point for the industry. Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale hailed it as groundbreaking, while KSB data shows a significant rise in local production and reduced imports, signaling progress toward making Kenya a net sugar exporter by 2026.
Still, challenges remain. Farmers are pushing for better governance at public mills, stricter traceability systems, and sustained support to solidify these gains. With sugar reforms central to Ruto’s 2027 reelection campaign, the administration is banking on the revival of this economic lifeline to transform livelihoods in Western Kenya and beyond.
