Ruto tours Nzoia Sugar, says farmers now paid within 7 days as factory returns to productivity

President William Ruto visited Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma County on August 14, 2026, to witness the factory's recovery from a seven-month shutdown. The head of state praised the government's reforms in the sugar sector, stating that farmers are now paid within seven days of delivering cane and that factories have returned to production.

Ruto credited the reforms for eliminating cartels, lowering production costs, and improving factory management. The digital farmers register and subsidized farm inputs are among the measures implemented to boost agricultural productivity. Nzoia Sugar had processed over 292,980 tonnes of cane since resuming operations in January 2026, although its daily crushing rate remains below its installed capacity.

The government's leasing of state-owned sugar mills to private investors has been instrumental in reviving factories that had accumulated debts and struggled with outdated equipment. Nzoia Sugar's dam project at the Nucleus Estate aims to reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture and potentially double production.