Dr Inyangala: Cess Monies to Be Returned to Farmers for Development

Cess funds collected from farmers supplying cane to both Butali and West Kenya sugar mills should be channelled back to develop the cane-growing zones.

Currently, the funds remitted to the county government have not been properly channelled back to Malava for its development as expected.

Farmers who met Upper Western Region aspiring Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) Director Dr. Ronald Inyangala during his meet-the-farmers tour, following the Kenya Sugar Board’s approval of registrations and campaigns ahead of the June 25, 2026 elections, expressed their dissatisfaction with how funds generated from Malava farmers were being used to develop other sub-counties while the source area remained neglected.

Led by farmer Timona Busolo from Chemuche Ward, the farmers placed their hopes in Dr. Inyangala, describing him as a voice of reason and a leader capable of streamlining the troubled sugar industry and restoring sanity to ensure farmers benefit more from their produce.

The meeting, held in Chemuche Ward in East Kabras Sub-county, saw farmers unanimously throw their support behind Dr. Inyangala, terming him the most suitable candidate who understands the sugar industry well.

The farmers told Dr. Inyangala that they had high hopes he would highlight and provide solutions to the challenges they have been facing in cane farming.

For his part, Dr. Inyangala assured the farmers of victory in the election and promised to push for timely and better payments, noting that farmers should be given first priority as the primary suppliers in the sugar value chain.

He also said he was ready to fight the corruption that has seen cartels take over cane harvesting and facilitate illegal sugar importation, practices he said continue to hurt the local sugar industry.

Dr. Inyangala vowed that, once elected, he would push for the introduction of on-farm mobile weighbridges so that farmers can know the tonnage of their cane before it is transported to factories.

“Farmers have been counting losses when tractors carrying their cane overturn and spill the produce before reaching the factory for weighing. But if the process is done at the farm, it will be the responsibility of the miller to cater for the loss,” he said.

At the same time, he said it was important for Malava to have a director on the Kenya Sugar Board since the area remains one of the major sugarcane-growing zones and hosts two operational factories, Butali and West Kenya, which pay farmers promptly every week.

He said the Upper Western region would benefit from his leadership and called on farmers across the region to support his bid to bring change and restore sanity in an industry he said has been overtaken by brokers and cartels who continue to trample on farmers’ rights.

“I want to join the Kenya Sugar Board to advocate for the rights of our farmers and ensure that they benefit fully from their produce, unlike now when millers dictate what farmers get from their cane,” he said.

Dr. Inyangala also said he would ensure that millers maintain roads to ease transportation and reduce accidents that lead to cane losses and wastage.

“The cess monies being channelled to the county government have not been properly utilised to benefit farmers from cane-growing areas, and it is one of the issues I want to address once I assume office,” he said.

He added that he would ensure farmers access fast-growing and disease-free cane varieties capable of delivering higher returns.

Dr. Inyangala expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious in the election and cautioned those seeking the position with expectations of personal gain, noting that the role does not attract a salary but only allowances for board sittings.

On youth and women empowerment, the aspiring director said he would create more employment and agribusiness opportunities to accommodate them.

He further pledged to introduce technology and innovation that would promote modern farming techniques and improve yields.

“The Kenya Sugar Board director’s vacancy is an elective position where candidates from cane-growing areas will battle it out for the seat, and the winner takes it all. I am ready to face my competitors at the ballot. If you think this is a lucrative position to mint money, then you are mistaken. This is a selfless position where one is expected to serve diligently without expecting much,” he cautioned