Sugarcane farmers have threatened to stage nationwide protests over continued delays in electing directors to the Kenya Sugar Board, accusing the courts and vested interests of frustrating a process they say is critical to safeguarding farmers' interests.
The warning came after the High Court in Kakamega postponed the matter to July 31, with Justice Stephen Mbungi directing parties seeking to be enjoined in the case to file their documents within one week before further directions are issued.
The case has stalled elections for farmer representatives to the Kenya Sugar Board, leaving growers without elected voices on the sector's top decision-making body.
EZRA OKOTH National Chairman, Kenya Sugarcane Farmers Association, outside the High Court in Kakamega
Speaking outside the court, Kenya Sugarcane Farmers Association National Chairman Ezra Okoth said farmers had grown impatient after months of court delays.
"We have been moving from one court to another for the last three months—from Kakamega to Vihiga and now back to Kakamega. Every time we come, the matter is postponed. We respect the courts, but enough is enough," Okoth said.
Okoth rejected a proposal before Parliament seeking to replace elections with the nomination of board directors, insisting that farmers must be allowed to elect their representatives.
"We want elections, not nominations. If nomination is the best system, then let all the 290 Members of Parliament be nominated instead of elected. Farmers deserve the same democratic right to choose their leaders," he said.
The farmers accused individuals who have filed court cases challenging the elections of using the judicial process to deliberately delay the exercise.
"Those filing these cases are not even genuine sugarcane farmers. They cannot prove they have supplied cane to any factory. These are simply delay tactics to frustrate farmers," Okoth alleged.
He further claimed that cartels within the sugar industry could be behind the court cases to maintain control over the sector.
"There are cartels operating behind the scenes. If millers are sponsoring these cases to protect sugar importation interests, they should know farmers are ready to confront them."
The association also warned that continued delays could trigger nationwide demonstrations.
"We are now preparing to take to the streets. This will not be limited to one county. It will be a nationwide protest because farmers are tired of waiting."
Okoth appealed directly to President William Ruto to intervene and ensure the elections proceed without further delays.
"Mr. President should move with speed and resolve this issue. If this continues, farmers in the sugar belt will have to reconsider their political support in the 2027 General Election."
Farmer Catherine Shiundu echoed the frustrations, saying growers feel excluded from decisions affecting the industry.
"We are asking the government to ensure these court cases are concluded quickly. Farmers have waited long enough, and every adjournment pushes the elections further away."
The Kenya Sugar Board elections have remained in limbo for months following a series of legal challenges, leaving thousands of sugarcane farmers without elected representatives on the board responsible for overseeing reforms and policy in the country's sugar industry.
