Tension has emerged between sugar milling companies in Kenya's Western region after operations resumed following a two-month suspension by the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB). Mumias Sugar Company accuses West Kenya Sugar Company of encroaching on its territory and stealing immature cane. The conflict stems from zoning divisions and claims of assault in the sector.
The KSB suspended sugar milling for two months due to a cane shortage, which led farmers to harvest immature cane and compromised sugar quality. The Western region hosts six sugar factories: Mumias Sugar Company, Nzoia, Butali, West Kenya, Ole Pito, and Naitiri.
Fresh disputes are rocking the sector, with Mumias condemning West Kenya for hiring an insider to rig competitions. Even after the KSB divided Kakamega County into two zones assigning each company its operational area, Mumias claims West Kenya is encroaching and stealing cane from its farm before maturity.
‘We demand that the KSB remain firm and implement the zoning order to facilitate operations in this sector,’ complained Stephen Kihumba, Manager of Mumias Sugar Company.
Mumias has planted cane on 3,428 hectares of its farm and is engaged in rehabilitating outgrowers' farms covering 2,128 hectares. When we took over in 2021, our farm was pastureland and parts had been taken for maize cultivation, but now we have closed all hectares and pay outgrowers within seven days, Kihumba added.
On October 16, 2025, a West Kenya tractor was impounded in the Makokha area of Matungu sub-county, loaded with cane harvested from a farmer contracted to Mumias. Mumias had communicated with this farmer on all farm activities, including planting, seed and fertilizer distribution.
‘Harvesting cane from a farm they have not invested in indicates there is no discipline in the sector at all,’ hinted Kihumba. Additionally, Mumias accuses West Kenya of harvesting cane before 13 months.