Cane poaching leaves two dead in Nzoia

Cane poaching in the western Kenya sugar belt has turned violent as at least two people have been killed in the battle to secure cane.

Farmers in Nzoia the issue has gotten out of hand as sugar millers try and secure enough sugar cane to crush and boost production levels.

Nzoia Sugar Managing Director Godfrey Wanyonyi said the government needs to intervene to ensure all players play by the rules to ensure every sugar mill does not encroach on a competitor’s area.

“The raw material is in short supply. Whatever cane we are getting is immature and doesn’t have much sucrose therefore we are forced to buy more cane as we make less sugar,” Mr Wanyonyi said.

Each sugar mill is allocated an area where they source cane from with strict guidelines on operations.

However dwindling availability of sugar cane has seen most millers shut down operations due to insufficient supply.

Farmers and millers alike are now demanding for clear implementation of zones to avid trespassing.

Sugar millers are facing supply constraints given the long time- usually 18 months- taken for sugar cane to mature.