Nzoia Sugar factory farmers lament 21-month salary arrears amid reopening

Sugarcane farmers at the Nzoia Sugar Company factory in Bungoma County have threatened to strike unless the milling firm settles their outstanding 21-month salary arrears.

The farmers gave the company's management one month to clear the dues, threatening to disrupt operations if their demands are not met.

Addressing the sugarcane farmers during the reopening on Saturday, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka assured them that plans were in motion to address their financial grievances.

In addition, the Governor revealed that he had dispatched an audit team which indicated debt amounts to approximately Ksh.1.6 billion.

“21 months without salary is not easy, add on to the fact that the economy is very tough, it is a very difficult situation. I sent an audit team here for one month and they have verified all the records,” said Lusaka.

“All that is left for me to do is to present before President William Ruto that the debt stands at about Ksh.1.6 billion, casual employers are owed about Ksh.170, 000, farmers Ksh.257, 000 and contract workers about Ksh.179, 000.”

Governor Lusaka also stressed the need for reforms in the once prestigious Nzoia milling factory, lamenting its decline from a point of pride to a concerning state.

“In the past, it was a pride to come to Nzoia, it was a good place. Now, you cannot bring students here. We must make sure that Nzoia works,” he added.

Also present was Kanduyi MP John Makali who echoed similar sentiments, pointing to internal management conflicts as a persistent issue, and calling for a resolution to prevent future disruptions.

“Every time we convene a meeting here, the issue is always management. Next time when we come here, we don’t want to hear that the issue is management,” he stated.

This comes against the backdrop of the factory's resumption of operations, providing relief to over 67,000 sugarcane farmers. 

The reopening follows a government directive and a prolonged period of inactivity due to a lack of cane.