Cane Farmers Protest Against Mumias Sugar Company

Business along Mumias-Busia road came to a standstill when angry youths and a section of cane farmers barricaded the road protesting over what they said was harassment by the giant Mumias Sugar factory.

The aggrieved protesters claimed that Mumias Sugar Factory was using goons to harass private cane farmers, who were delivering their cane to West Kenya sugar factory.

Armed with twigs and stones, the protesters disrupted activities at Kisoko- Mumias cane collecting center, saying the centre should be closed down until the controversy surrounding the two companies is resolved.

However, the C.E.O of Mumias Sugar factory Mr.Peter Kebati denied the allegations saying they encourage private cane in their zones but are against 'cane poaching' being conducted by their rival.

He said according to the Kenya Sugar Manufacturers Association, every miller must adhere to the protocol set, when getting cane from a region dominated by a different miller.

He added that Mumias had invested in cane development at a cost of over Ksh. 540 million on 24,000 hectares of land in Busia County alone and would not sit back and watch their rivals engage in unfair competition.

This comes barely a month after two rival groups in Busia County allied to the two competitors engaged in running battles, when a group allied to Mumias Sugar factory was holding a peaceful demonstration to protest against cane poaching in the area.