The planned leasing of Nzoia Sugar Company to West Kenya Sugar will now proceed after the High Court dismissed a petition challenging the process.
Former Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi had filed the petition seeking to halt the lease, citing a lack of transparency and public participation. However, Justice Lawrence Mugambi, in a virtual ruling, struck out the petition, stating the matter had already been conclusively addressed in a previous case filed by Martin Nyongesa Barasa.
“The upshot is that the preliminary objection is upheld and the instant petition is struck out. I make no orders as to costs,” Justice Mugambi ruled.
Barasa’s earlier petition had similarly contested the leasing of state-owned sugar mills and was dismissed earlier this year.
With the legal hurdle now cleared, West Kenya Sugar—part of the Rai Group—will proceed with its Ksh5.76 billion investment to revitalise Nzoia Sugar. The company plans to modernise the factory, enhance production, and improve livelihoods for thousands of sugarcane farmers in western Kenya.
The Ministry of Agriculture had approved the leasing of four state-owned millers: Nzoia, Chemelil, Sony, and Muhoroni Sugar Companies, all granted to private firms under 30-year leases.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe praised West Kenya Sugar’s commitment to farmers. The firm currently pays over 120,000 contracted farmers weekly, disbursing more than Ksh14 billion annually. This model, the CS noted, is expected to be adopted at Nzoia.
West Kenya Sugar has also pledged to maintain regular wages for staff and invest Ksh7 billion yearly in cane development.
