President Ruto’s administration has cleared Ksh.50 billion debt owed to the company that had led to its crisis and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to do away with similar debts for the Muhoroni, Chemelil, Soni, and Miwani sugar factories, which amounted to Ksh.117 billion.

Speaking during a meeting with the sugarcane farmers in Bungoma County on Thursday, the Head of State affirmed the government’s commitment to clearing the miller’s Ksh1.7 billion debt to ensure locals are compensated for their hard labour.

“We have calculated a Ksh1.7 billion debt, and when I leave this place in the next two days, all farmers will have received their money,” Ruto pledged.

President Ruto also assured the farmers that the company, at the heart of Western Kenya’s economy, would not be privatised or leased.

He confirmed that plans were underway to overhaul the management of Nzoia Sugar and breathe new life into the ailing sugar sector in the Western region, an initiative that will also see the county government of Bungoma enjoy an annual dividend of not less than Ksh300 million.

Sugar companies in Western Kenya have since time immemorial experienced a crisis and his predecessors were unable to write off the debts, thus rendering them unmanageable.