Sugar sector workers down tools nationwide over Sh1.9 billion unpaid dues

The Kenya Union of Sugarcane Plantation and Allied Workers (KUSPAW) General Secretary Francis Wangara speaking in his office./FAITH MATETE

Sugar sector workers have started their nationwide strike today following non-payment of salaries and terminal benefits arrears amounting to Sh1.9 billion owed to employees of leased state-owned sugar factories.

The Kenya Union of Sugarcane Plantation and Allied Workers (Kuspaw) said the industrial action will affect Muhoroni, Chemelil, Nzoia and Sony sugar mills.

The workers are demanding that the government releases the funds or provides a clear, time-bound commitment before Christmas.

Kuspaw secretary general Francis Wangara said earlier understandings with the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Treasury on settling the arrears have not yet been implemented.

“We were assured that workers’ arrears would be paid by November and at the latest before Christmas. There has been no communication, no timeline and no commitment from the government,” he said.

The unpaid dues relate to workers who were declared redundant following the leasing of the factories to private operators, as well as employees who were retained by the new millers but are still owed part of their salary arrears and terminal benefits.

According to the union, private investors reduced staff numbers after taking over the mills, leaving many workers without employment and without payment of outstanding dues.

Wangara claimed the union formally wrote to the government on December 15 seeking payment by December 19, noting that failure to meet the deadline would lead to industrial action.

We have not received any response. Starting Monday, our members will not report to work until these payments are made,” he said.

The union urged the new mill operators to respect workers’ constitutional right to strike, while maintaining that responsibility for settling the arrears rests with the government.

However, Wangara said any investor willing to pay the workers and later seek reimbursement from the State was free to do so.

“Any company that is ready to pay can go ahead and recover the money from the government,” he said.

Wangara said continued silence from the authorities was deepening workers’ hardship and undermining confidence among affected employees.

“There is no goodwill or seriousness demonstrated so far. We are not backing down,” he said.

On the possibility of legal action, Wangara said the union’s immediate priority was engagement with the Ministry of Labour and the transition committees overseeing the leasing process

He said a transition committee meeting held on December 6 resolved that all outstanding payments be cleared before Christmas, a resolution that has not yet been implemented.

The planned strike comes when the government is implementing wide-ranging reforms in the sugar sector, including leasing out state-owned mills to private investors to improve efficiency, boost production and curb losses.