Kenya sugar workers threaten nationwide strike over unpaid wages and benefits

KENYA – The Kenya Union of Sugarcane Plantation and Allied Workers (KUSPAW) has warned that sugar industry workers will down tools if the government and millers fail to settle outstanding salary arrears and benefits, raising the risk of a nationwide shutdown across sugar mills. 

Earlier this week, newly elected KUSPAW Secretary General Francis Wangara said the union had already issued a strike notice over unpaid wages and benefits totalling Kes 10.8 billion, owed to workers in several sugar companies currently undergoing transition to private management. 

“As we speak now, we have given a notice of strike which is going to take effect from Thursday,” Wangara said. “If nothing happens within one week, we will call on all sugar companies to join in solidarity so that we paralyze the sugar mills in the whole industry.” 

Wangara accused the government of failing to honour commitments made to workers during the leasing and transition of state-owned sugar factories to private investors, despite existing agreements outlining how employees were to be treated. 

At the centre of the dispute are a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) negotiated before new millers took over operations. Wangara said these agreements remain binding on incoming investors. 

“Before they came into play, there was already an agreement signed between ourselves and the government,” he said. “Nobody can say that the MOU does not apply to them. They were nowhere when we signed it, but it is binding.” 

The union leader also raised concern over what he described as deliberate salary reductions by some millers, warning that paying workers below agreed rates would not be tolerated. 

 “The sugar industry is exempted from the agricultural wages order, meaning salaries cannot be below the minimum,” Wangara said. He added: “It is unfortunate that those who have taken over have decided to lower salaries.” 

Wangara further accused employers of violating labour laws by blocking union activities and stopping statutory deductions of union dues. 

He also said some union branches had been forced to negotiate stipends to keep workers afloat during factory shutdowns. “If management fails to pay stipends, employees will run to other companies and the industry will lose skilled workers,” he warned. 

Wangara singled out Chemelil and Kibos sugar companies, both involved in court cases, accusing their owner of frustrating workers’ rights.  

Last year, the government leased four state-owned sugar mills under a new model aimed at attracting private capital while retaining public ownership.  

South Nyanza (Sony) was leased to Busia Sugar Industry Ltd, Nzoia to West Kenya Sugar Company Ltd, Chemelil to Kibos Sugar & Allied Industries Ltd, and Muhoroni to West Valley Sugar Company Ltd. 

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