Nzoia Sugar Workers Protest Over Delayed Salaries Despite Ruto’s Promise

Despite President William Ruto’s promise to disburse money to sugar companies in August, a standoff was witnessed at the Nzoi Sugar Factory on Friday, November 29, after workers downed their tools and protested over the delay of their salaries.

The workers complained of not receiving their salaries for the last nine months with the company giving them empty promises.

Blaming the current leadership for their misfortunes, the workers want the government to intervene and resolve the issue.

“From last year, July, to date, we have already accumulated nine months of salary arrears. We plead with the government to investigate Nzoia Sugar Company. As workers, we are tired of waiting, but we will not relent in demanding our rights,” Benard Wanyonyi, a Sugar Workers union official, said.

The workers have requested oversight of the company’s management because they could not understand why they were faced with the challenges despite owning the largest nuclear in East Africa.

“Our sister companies are doing better than us. What is it that is being done here so differently than those companies? We have the largest nuclear in East Africa, what is wrong with us?” Miriam Wanyama, an employee of the company, queried.

According to the factory, management has blamed the delays on the fact that the factory is not operating normally as it has stopped processing cane.

The company’s board chairperson, Alfred Kang’ati, has, however, assured the workers that the company is working on clear salary areas.

“We have delayed salaries, but we are working to clear the arrears even if it means borrowing,” Kang’ati assured.

In August, President Ruto made a raft of promises to the Nzoia Sugar Company, including that the government would release Ksh150 million within two weeks to pay salaries and sugarcane farmers’ arrears.

Speaking during a tour in Bungoma County in August, Ruto revealed that the allocation had been included in the supplementary budget.

“After writing off the Ksh53 billion debts Nzoia Sugar owed to farmers, suppliers, and creditors, we promised to secure additional funds for salary arrears. They will get paid in a week,” Ruto revealed.

He also promised to streamline the management of the company, which had faced mismanagement and fraud for nearly 40 years.

“We have placed the sugar factory on a leasing program, and a new management will be installed to ensure profitability,” the president continued.

Nzoia Sugar boasts a total of 4,229.01 hectares and has over 67,000 contracted farmers.