Sugar workers issue one-week ultimatum over unpaid dues

The Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers has given the National Treasury a one-week ultimatum to release dues owed to sugar factory workers, failure to which the government could face industrial action. Union Secretary General Francis Wangara said about 1,200 workers were discontinued following the leasing of four state-owned sugar mills and have remained in company houses due to accumulated salary arrears. The government had begun staggered payments of sugar factory workers’ and farmers’ arrears amounting to more than Sh5 billion, with the final instalment expected to be paid by July 2026.