In the heart of Trans Nzoia County, tensions are rising. The lease of Nzoia Sugar Company to a private investor has sparked a political storm — and a public outcry.
Governor George Natembeya, known for his blunt approach, has found himself at the centre of it. On Monday, he marched with residents in protest against the factory’s 30-year lease to West Kenya Sugar, a company owned by tycoon Jaswant Rai. The move, approved by the national government, is part of a wider push to revitalise Kenya’s struggling sugar sector. But here in Western Kenya, not everyone is convinced.
“This land belongs to our people,” Natembeya declared during the protest. “They sacrificed for this factory. They deserve a say in its future.”
Back in Nairobi, the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), led by Eugene Wamalwa, has come to his defence. In a statement on Wednesday, the party dismissed criticism from Senator Allan Chesang, who accused Natembeya of playing politics.
“Trans Nzoia came about after people gave up land to build this factory,” the statement read. “The governor is right to defend their interests. It’s about devolution and fairness.”
Farmers and local leaders backing Natembeya say they’re angry about how the leasing process was handled. There was no open bidding, they claim — just a quiet handover to a sugar baron who already dominates much of the Western region’s cane economy.
“Our people are still owed money,” said one local farmer, who asked not to be named. “How can they hand it over without paying us first?”
But government officials say the process was above board. The Kenya Sugar Board insists the deal was carefully vetted and puts farmers first.
“If the investors don’t deliver, we’ll take the factories back,” said Jude Chesire, the board’s chief executive. “Every kilo of sugar processed means lease fees that go directly to farmers.”
He added that any investor failing to modernise mills, support cane development, or pay farmers weekly as agreed will face termination of their lease. “A 30-year lease only makes sense if there’s serious investment,” Chesire said.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe echoed that defence, saying the leases followed “extensive consultation” with stakeholders, including unions, MPs, governors, and farmers’ groups.
“It was a competitive process,” Kagwe insisted last Friday. “And it has Cabinet approval.”
Still, doubts linger. Rai’s dominance in the sugar sector has raised concerns of monopoly. Critics fear that placing Nzoia under his control may worsen, not solve, the region’s long-standing problems of mismanagement and poor farmer payouts.
For now, the factory’s future remains caught in a tug-of-war between government ambition and local frustration. What’s clear is that Nzoia Sugar is more than just a factory. For many here, it’s a symbol — of land, livelihood, and a promise yet to be kept.
