Nzoia Sugar Company has paid more than Sh700 million to farmers since resuming operations this year, as the miller reports improved production, faster payments and major investments aimed at restoring its fortunes.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sohan Sharma said the company has injected nearly Sh900 million into the Bungoma County economy since operations resumed, with farmers now receiving payment within two weeks of delivering cane.
Sharma said the company embarked on an extensive rehabilitation programme after taking over the factory in May 2025, refurbishing the pre-mill section, mill house, boiling house, boilers, turbines, electrical systems, instrumentation and civil works.
He said the factory resumed crushing in January 2026 and has since processed more than 292,980 tonnes of cane.
The CEO said although the mill has an installed crushing capacity of 3,000 tonnes of cane per day, it is currently averaging about 1,900 tonnes.
He added that investments in new equipment have significantly improved milling efficiency, with the ratio dropping from between 17 and 21 to 10.
Sharma attributed part of the turnaround to the introduction of a digital Smart Weighment System and a Distributed Control System, saying the technologies have eliminated manual manipulation at the weighbridge while enabling farmers to receive real-time SMS confirmations of cane deliveries.
The company, he said, now supports 1,639 jobs and is implementing an irrigation project expected to increase cane yields from an average of 40 tonnes per hectare to as much as 120 tonnes per hectare.
He, however, warned that inadequate cane supply remains a major challenge.
The factory, he said, requires about 43,500 acres of cane to sustain operations through October 2027, but has contracted only 24,500 acres, leaving a deficit of about 19,000 acres.
He called for collaboration among farmers, financial institutions and the county government to expand cane production.
Bungoma County Governor Kenneth Lusaka who toured the factory on Thursday said the revival of the mill had already begun benefiting farmers, noting that prompt payments had restored confidence among growers after years of delays.
He urged the new management to sustain the gains and return Nzoia Sugar to its position as one of the country’s leading sugar millers, saying the county government would continue supporting efforts to revive the factory.
Lusaka also challenged political leaders to stop using the miller’s past difficulties for political point-scoring, insisting that the welfare of farmers should remain the priority as the company works towards full recovery.
By Chris Mahandara
