Three decades on, cane farmers wait for elusive factory project

The plan to build a sugar factory in Busia County remains a mirage more than three decades since the idea was conceived.

The county has become the playground for a tug-of-war between rival millers in western Kenya.

Though agriculture is the main economic activity in the region, farmers have yet to reap the fruits of a project they eagerly embraced in the 1980s, with the promise of the construction of the Busia Sugar Company.

Eager farmers embraced sugarcane growing believing that it would save them from poverty and unemployment.

Many rushed into signing contracts they hardly had time to read and understand, as the thought of making big money excited them
At first, the farmers enjoyed the benefits. Their lifestyles changed. They were able to educate their children, some built permanent houses while others married more wives.

According to Nambale farmer Leonard Onyango, their new-found joy did not last long as the cane would remain on their farms for long periods without being harvested.

DITCH CANE FARMING

He said transport costs ate deep into their earnings as the dream of putting up a factory on the disputed 842-acre plot at Nasewa in Nambale failed.

This turn of events threatened the livelihoods of many growers

“We had high expectations and big dreams in sugarcane farming, but it seems everything has fallen apart,” the farmer said.

Mr Onyango said low cane prices had pushed farmers to plant horticultural crops, maize and beans.

Mumias Sugar Company stepped in and started contracting the farmers. However, the huge transportation cost was an obstacle to the farmers’ dream of making a good income.

The region has witnessed demonstrations that have resulted in deaths due to wrangles between Mumias and West Kenya Sugar Company over cane poaching allegations.

With no major factory in the region, investors are making a beeline for the county to reap the fruits of devolution.

Several of them have shown interest in establishing factories to boost the region’s economy.

A private investor had started the construction of a multi-billion sugar mill at Busibwabo in Matayos Sub-County, but the project has stalled due to a court case.

Africa Polysac was cleared by the government to construct a Sh1.3 billion sugar factory at Busibwabo in mid this year.

The construction began after a colourful groundbreaking ceremony that was presided over by Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, but the project has met with a lot of resistance from individuals perceived to be working for rival investors keen to monopolise the industry.

Immediately after Africa Polysac got the licence to establish the factory, two farmers from Kakamega went to court to stop its construction on grounds that the permit to put up a factory in the area contravened the National Environment Management Authority’s policy.

Despite the High Court in Busia dismissing the petition in favour of Africa Polysac and the Busia County Government, which had been enjoined in the case as an interested party, another case has been lodged in the High Court in Bungoma on similar grounds.

Leaders have appealed to the Jubilee Government to end the wrangles surrounding the construction of a sugar mill at Busibwabo, but the sweet news, it seems, will take a little longer to come.