Cane farmers from the Nyando sugar belt have expressed strong opposition to calls from some farmers to reopen sugarcane weighbridges, which were closed by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
Farmers argue that there was a clear agreement regarding the establishment of weighbridges within the sugar sector, with facilities intended to be located in every region where sugar factories operate—a practice known as regional zoning.
Led by Killion Osur, Secretary of the Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers in the Muhoroni branch, they emphasized that the closed weighbridges should remain shut. Osur stated that millers should establish their own facilities within their designated areas, in accordance with the task force report that outlined regional zoning by dividing the country into five regions.
“Millers must operate within their designated regions as guided by AFA,” Osur asserted. He warned that if poaching were allowed to resume, it would lead to a rapid depletion of sugarcane supplies, potentially forcing mills to shut down and leaving employees without pay. “We are saying no to reopening the weighbridges in the area,” he added.
This sentiment was echoed by Edward Onyango, the chairman of transporters in Muhoroni. He emphasized that local mills are capable of processing the sugarcane produced in the region and cautioned that allowing outside millers to collect cane could result in shortages, threatening the viability of local factories.
AFA Director Samuel Ong’ow clarified that the decision to close the weighbridges was aimed at restoring order to the industry and followed extensive consultations with stakeholders. “We are aware that two millers were affected; Kibos Sugar closed five of their weighbridges, and West Kenya closed three,” Ong’ow noted.
He reiterated that the board continues to encourage millers to operate within their designated regions, highlighting that the current Sugar Bill, which is under mediation between the Senate and the National Assembly, will further formalize these regional boundaries, referred to as catchment areas in the bill.
