Chaos in Bungoma as Western Kenya leaders protest Nzoia Sugar lease to Jaswant Rai

The demonstration, which brought the Webuye-Malava highway to a standstill, descended into chaos after police fired teargas and live rounds into the air to disperse the crowds.

The protest, spearheaded by Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, and politician Cleophas Malala, drew hundreds of sugarcane farmers and residents from across the region.

Demonstrators decried what they called an illegal and forceful takeover of a key regional economic lifeline—despite a court order issued on April 23 halting the lease of the state-owned miller to Rai’s West Kenya Sugar Company.

“This is defiance of a court order. We are here to say, Rai, if you have disregarded the law, you are persona non grata—do not set foot in Nzoia Sugar,” declared Wamalwa, addressing an energized crowd shortly before police intervention disrupted the gathering.

Attempts by the leaders and protesters to access the factory premises were blocked by heavily armed anti-riot police. The confrontation escalated as officers lobbed teargas canisters and fired warning shots, forcing protesters to scatter. Traffic along the critical highway was disrupted for hours.

Governor Natembeya, a vocal critic of the lease, accused the government of orchestrating a sell-off of public assets under the guise of privatization. “Jaswant Rai failed with Pan Paper in Webuye. Today, it is a ghost town. Now he wants to ruin Nzoia. If state corporations are failing, should we auction Kenya Airways, KVDA, or even public universities? If anything should be leased, it’s the government itself—not our assets,” he said.

The leaders maintained that Rai’s acquisition of Nzoia Sugar was not only economically detrimental but also symbolized deeper disregard for the region’s interests. Malala called the transaction “a betrayal,” criticizing the reported lease amount. “You can’t hand over our land and factory for just KSh 50,000. The court order must be respected. Let the case be heard first.”

Farmers, too, voiced their outrage. Zacharia Barasa, a local cane grower, accused Rai of plotting to shut down the factory and divert raw materials to his other milling facilities. “If Rai takes over, he will close Nzoia. He’ll take our cane to West Kenya and leave us with nothing,” he said.

The protest comes just days after the government formally handed over the management of Nzoia Sugar to West Kenya Sugar Company, a move that has sparked backlash across the sugar belt. Despite legal proceedings pending in court, Rai’s firm has reportedly begun taking operational control of the mill.

Governor Natembeya issued a stern warning, stating, “Rai might use police now to gain access, but once we assume leadership at the national level, we will evict him. We cannot be forced to accept an investor who comes only to destroy our property.”

The leaders vowed to sustain their resistance through continued mass mobilization and legal action, insisting that the lease was unlawful and would devastate the region’s already struggling sugar sector.