Kenya’s sugar belt is facing a major shakeup. The Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) has announced a temporary three-month closure of all sugar milling operations in Upper and Lower Western Kenya, effective July 14, 2025. The drastic move aims to address a growing crisis caused by an acute shortage of mature sugarcane.
Highlights
- All sugar mills in Western Kenya ordered to cease operations from July 14 to October 14, 2025.
- The shutdown is triggered by overharvesting of immature cane and poor yields.
- Affected mills include Nzoia, Butali, Mumias, West Kenya, and Busia Sugar.
- The Kenya Sugar Board will conduct a cane census during the shutdown.
- Move aligns with Sugar Development Levy reforms to revamp the sector.
Main Story
The Kenya Sugar Board says the decision comes after a sharp decline in cane availability due to widespread harvesting of immature crops—some just 10 months old. Farmers and millers have struggled to meet production targets, leading to poor recovery rates and unsustainable milling operations.
To stabilize the sector, KSB is initiating a full shutdown to allow cane stocks time to recover and mature. The board will also conduct a comprehensive cane availability survey to inform future mill scheduling and investments.
The temporary closure affects several major mills in the sugar heartland, including:
- Nzoia Sugar Company
- Butali Sugar Mills
- West Kenya Sugar Company (including Olepito and Naitiri)
- Mumias Sugar (2021) Ltd
- Busia Sugar Industry Ltd
This decision directly impacts thousands of farmers, transporters, and workers dependent on the sugar economy.
The shutdown coincides with the rollout of the Sugar Development Levy (SDL), which took effect on July 1, 2025. The SDL is meant to fund cane development, infrastructure, and mill modernization — with the ultimate goal of reducing sugar imports by 2027 and reviving local sugar production.
Funds from the levy, collected by the Kenya Revenue Authority, will also support farmer institutions and co-operatives during the recovery phase.
The KSB has committed to reviewing the industry’s status in mid-October 2025, after completing its cane census and evaluating maturation levels. If conditions are favorable, operations will resume with a new structure focused on sustainable milling and improved yields.
With cane fields under pressure and mills grinding to a halt, Western Kenya’s sugar sector enters a critical pause — one that could either trigger reform or deepen the crisis.
