Sony Sugar stakeholders seek clarification on company land ahead of lease

Awendo Member of Parliament Walter Owino wants the government to clarify the fate of the land donated by the community to the South Nyanza Sugar Company (Sony Sugar) when the company is leased to private investors.

Owino said stakeholders want to know if the government will lease both the factory and the pieces of land, and who will benefit from the land if it's leased to the investor.

“The nuclear land for the company was donated by the people of Awendo, and therefore, they need to know the fate of the land before the leasing is actualized,” the MP said.

The legislator said the government must also come out clear on the job security of the workers who are already employed by the company before the leasing is done.

Owino said all the workers already employed by the company must not be interfered with by the investor who will take over the operations of the sugar company.

The MP has also stated that the investor who will be running Sony Sugar on a lease basis must also tell the stakeholders the new things they bringing to the company.

The process of leasing Sony Sugar alongside three state-owned sugar mills – Nzoia Sugar, Muhoroni Sugar and Chemelil Sugar – commenced in May 2023, led by President William Ruto.

The High Court last month cleared the way for the leasing after dismissing a petition challenging the process on constitutionality grounds.