The National Assembly Agriculture and Livestock Committee of Kenya has begun reviewing the Sugar Bill, 2022. In this regard, the Committee met with sugar millers and farmers to collect their views on the proposed legislation.

The Bill, sponsored by Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe, MP, aims to reinstate the Sugar Act, which was repealed through the enactment of the Crops Act, 2013. The new legislation seeks to restore the roles of the Kenya Sugar Board, which are currently undertaken by the Sugar Directorate of the Agriculture and Food Authority.

Among other things, the proposed Bill provides for the regulation, development, and promotion of the sugar industry in Kenya. It also establishes the Kenya Sugar Board and outlines its powers and functions.

During the engagement, sugar millers presented their proposals on contentious issues such as cane poaching, delineation of sugar catchment areas, enforcement of measures to curb cane theft, and insufficient access to seed cane.

Farmers in Nzoia and Butali called upon the the National Government to revive the ailing sugar sector that is their main source of income.

To engage with stakeholders in the country's sugar belt extensively, Members of the Committee divided into two sub-committees, each comprising at least five MPs accompanied by area MPs, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Agriculture and Food Authority, and the Office of the County Commissioner. The lawmakers interacted with representatives from various sugar mills and toured Busia Sugar Industries, Mumias Sugar Limited, Nzoia Sugar Limited, West Kenya Sugar Limited, and Butali Sugar Limited.

The Committee is expected to visit Chemelil, Kibos, Muhoroni, and Miwani Sugar factories in the coming days to continue collecting views from stakeholders in the sugar industry.

The review of the Sugar Bill, 2022, and the collection of views from sugar millers and farmers is a step towards promoting the development and regulation of Kenya's sugar industry, which is crucial to the country's economy