Through its spokesperson, Isaac Mwaura, the government has come out to clarify questions raised on the recently launched sugar bonus.
On 20th January 2025, President William Ruto launched the sugar bonus in Mumias, Kakamega County. Speaking to the locals there, the head of state said the bonus, the first ever to be paid to sugar cane farmers, demonstrates the government’s commitment to the successful implementation of reform promises made by his administration to revive the once-thriving sugar sector.
“I told you three things that needed to happen! First, we must pay our farmers, then our workers, and lastly our bonuses. With me here today is a Sh150 million cheque to pay the bonus that belongs to you,” he told the residents.
Many questions were raised sparking a widespread debate on whether or not the bonus was released.
Some questioned whether, just like other bonuses, this resulted from profits made by the farmers or political funding to sway the votes in the region.
Gathoni Wamuchoma, the Member of Parliament for Githunguri was among the leaders who raised concerns about the sugar bonus. She took to social media to question whether the sugar bonus was truly a government initiative.
“I don’t know much about sugar farming, but I saw a bonus launch for Mumias sugar farmers. Was this a government initiative? Will all other sugar companies in western Kenya receive it, and when? I don’t recall any bonus funds being passed in parliamentary budgets,” she posted on X.
According to the government, that was the region’s first-ever sugar bonus, which means the company is once again profitable. Isaac Mwaura has shed light on the bonus issue.
Profits but not donations
In a statement via his official X handle, Mwaura claims that the Ksh 150 million bonus awarded to farmers came from the company and not government coffers.
He went ahead to add that sugar reforms had earlier written off a Ksh 117 billion debt for the firm.
According to the statement the debt had been accumulated in 40 years but now the company is back to full recovery directly benefiting the locals.
