5,000 Sugar Workers Launch Indefinite Strike Over KSh 10.8 Billion in Unpaid Dues
Over 5,000 sugar workers from four major mills in Kenya have launched an indefinite strike, demanding the immediate settlement of KSh 10.8 billion in long-overdue salaries, benefits, and other arrears.
The industrial action, organized by the Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers (KUSPAW), began on Thursday and has already disrupted operations at key facilities. Protests were reported at Nzoia Sugar Factory, where demonstrators blocked sections of the Webuye–Eldoret Highway, halting transport in the area.
The affected factories include Nzoia, Chemelil, Muhoroni, and Sony—all currently under private leasing arrangements following government-led reforms in the sugar sector.
Union Secretary General Francis Wangara accused the government of failing to honor earlier commitments made during the leasing process. He noted that authorities had pledged to disburse the KSh 10.8 billion in phased payments starting from October 2025 through June 2026, but no funds have been released so far.
"The government sat down, did the calculations, and promised payments," said a Nzoia worker, Mirriam Wanyama. "They have all the records, yet they keep distorting the figures."
Retirees are particularly hard-hit, with former employee Johnstone Juma describing widespread hardship, depression, and emotional distress due to repeated broken promises.
Wangara urged the leasing companies to negotiate directly with the government for compensation, emphasizing that these mills remain partially under state influence despite privatization efforts.
The union has vowed to sustain the strike until the full amount—covering three years of pending salaries and accrued benefits—is paid and reflected in workers' accounts. This could potentially halt sugar production across the affected plants, raising concerns about supply chain disruptions and broader economic ripple effects in the industry.
The strike follows earlier warnings, including a seven-day notice issued in late January 2026, amid ongoing frustrations with the slow pace of sector reforms and payment delays.
