By Ongaga Ongaga
Sugarcane farmers across Kenya are set to benefit from a new minimum cane price of Sh5,500 per tonne following approval by the Interim Sugarcane Pricing Committee under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
In a letter dated April 24, 2026, addressed to sugar millers and signed by Acting Chief Executive Officer Jude Chesire, the committee announced that the revised price takes effect immediately.
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“The above subject refers,” the letter states, before confirming that “a new sugarcane price of Ksh. 5,500 per tonne has been approved effective immediately.”
The Fourth Interim Sugarcane Pricing Committee, appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, said the decision followed both virtual and physical meetings held on April 24 and April 17 respectively, alongside extensive consultations on sugarcane prices.
According to the communication, the committee considered prevailing regional market conditions before arriving at the new pricing structure.
“This new price is comparatively high in the region,” the letter notes.
The directive now requires all sugar companies and millers to comply with the new minimum price and ensure prompt payments to farmers.
“You are hereby requested to adhere to the new minimum cane price while making payments to the farmers on time,” Chesire wrote.
The letter was copied to Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and Principal Secretary Dr. Kipronoh K. Ronnoh, signaling the ministry’s close attention to the implementation of the new pricing policy.
Among the companies notified are Muhoroni Sugar Company 2025, South Nyanza Sugar Company 2025, Mumias Sugar Company, Kwale International Sugar Company Ltd, Sukari Industries Ltd, Busia Sugar Industry Ltd, and West Valley Sugar Company Ltd.
The move is expected to bring relief to farmers who have long complained about low cane prices, delayed payments, and exploitation by millers.
The new price could improve farmer earnings and restore confidence in Kenya’s struggling sugar sector, though attention will now shift to enforcement and whether millers will fully comply with the directive.
