Kenya bans sugar imports by local millers as domestic production surges

KENYA – Kenya has banned sugar imports by local sugar milling companies, with Agriculture Principal Secretary Kiprono Rono saying the country now produces enough sugar to meet domestic demand. 

The move is aimed at protecting local sugarcane farmers, boosting the local sugar industry and reducing reliance on imported sugar. 

Speaking during the launch of the 10th campus of the Kenya School of Agriculture, Rono said reforms in the sugar sector had doubled the country’s monthly sugar production.  

According to the PS, production has risen from about 40,000 metric tonnes to more than 80,000 metric tonnes per month, reflecting the impact of government reforms and expanded sugarcane farming. 

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows domestic sugar production rose by 21.98% to 348,143 tonnes between January and May 2026, compared with 285,418 tonnes recorded during the same period in 2025. 

The growth was driven by a 25.1% increase in sugarcane deliveries from farmers, which climbed to 3.9 million tonnes from 3.1 million tonnes over the same period last year. The higher supply of raw material allowed factories to increase processing and improve overall output. 

“Our priority is to protect our farmers and ensure they benefit from their hard work. Kenya now has the capacity to produce enough sugar for its people, and there is no justification for continued importation by our sugar factories while local cane remains unharvested,” Rono said. 

He cautioned sugar millers against neglecting locally grown sugarcane in favour of imports, insisting they must prioritize harvesting cane produced by Kenyan farmers. 

Rono also reminded millers that the law requires farmers to be paid within five days of delivering their sugarcane, warning that delayed payments discourage production and undermine ongoing efforts to revive the sector. 

“We expect all millers to comply fully with the law by paying farmers within five days after harvesting their cane. Timely payments will restore farmers’ confidence, increase production and secure the future of the sugar industry,” he said. 

The Agriculture PS also urged farmers to embrace climate-smart farming, mechanisation and modern agricultural technologies to improve productivity, build resilience against climate change and enhance food security. 

He praised collaboration between the national and county governments in implementing agricultural programmes, saying investments in agricultural training institutions would equip farmers and extension officers with the practical skills needed to modernise the sector. 

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