Your days are numbered, Ruto warns Sugar cartels frustrating sector
Sugar cartels holding hostage the cane industry will be dealt with accordingly President William Ruto has announced.
The President said it was time the cane sector rescued from middle men brokers and cartels who have taken charge of the sector operations suppressing cane farmers.
“These cartels who have been using the courts to scuttle and suspend the schedule Kenya sugar board (KSB) directorship election countrywide are known and will be unmasked very soon and I, am asking Kenyans to give me a little more time to plan how I will deal with them completely”, he assured.
Addressing farmers at the recent agriculture and food systems transformation summit in Nairobi 2026, President Ruto said the sugar sector was being fought by known individuals who did not want the elections to be held so they can continue to import cheap sugar and flood the market while killing the local production.
“I know those behind the numerous suspension of the Kenya sugar board elections across the country are listening to me now and they know that I know them and I’m requesting for some little time to craft a solid plan on how I will deal with them completely” he urged the farmers.
He noted that on several occasions the efforts to hold elections have hit a snag as the cartels have been sabotaging the process through sponsored court orders.
He revealed that it was the cartels who were sponsoring a section of farmers to rush to the courts and block the planned elections which has now been suspended for the third time consecutively.
The President said it was time for the government to crack the whip on the cartels and streamline the sugar industry for prosperity.
To ensure that the sector is thriving, the government has set aside Ksh.1.8billion top offset the farmers’ debts by December this year with their bonuses being paid by the start of November 2026.
Also for the struggling sugar factories the government has allowed the private sector to inject its input to ensure the factories stays afloat.
During the breakaway session on sugar subsector transformation for competitive mills and better farmer returns held at the agriculture and food systems transformation summit (AFSS)2026, at Jamhuri showgrounds, stakeholders came together to deliberate on transforming Kenya’s sugar industry from cane production to competitive milling and better farmer returns.
During the side event, key issues discussed included reliable seed canes and extension services, research and adoption of improved climate-smart varieties, cane pricing, transparent weighing and timely payments, regulation and farmer protection, effective utilization of the sugar development fund (SDF), value addition, youth mainstreaming, financing, and utilization of by-products for circular economy.
The talks revolved around the need to developing a cane-to-sugar reform matrix that will boost productivity, ensure reliable cane supply, improve competitiveness of mills, increase farmer incomes, and build a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive sugar industry.
Upon conclusion of the session, exemplary farmers in the sugarcane value chain were awarded recognizing their innovation, resilience and contribution to sector transformation.
So far the Kenya sugar board directorship country wide elections have been suspended three times with the latest one scheduled to be held on 5/09/2026.
