Kenya’s sugar sector shows signs of recovery after reforms

Two years after the enactment of the Sugar Act 2024, Kenya’s sugar sector is showing signs of a turnaround. Stakeholders say reforms have helped boost local production, with output hitting a record 91,000 tonnes in July alone. Despite the gains, the industry continues to face major challenges, including illegal sugar imports and inadequate cane supply, threatening to derail the recovery. As once-struggling sugar mills begin to revive operations and farmers return to cane production, the sector is navigating a delicate balance between sustaining growth and addressing long-standing challenges. Laura Otieno takes stock of the bittersweet journey of Kenya’s sugar industry and how reforms are breathing new life into the country’s sleeping sugar giants.