Moses Wetangula. Photo/X
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula on Sunday assured residents of Kanduyi Constituency that Nzoia Sugar Factory is set for full revival under the Kenya Kwanza government, promising that local farmers will continue benefiting from its operations.
Speaking during a Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Kongoli, Wetangula, whose constituency is part of the sugarcane-growing Nzoia nucleus, urged residents to ignore critics who have opposed the factory’s revival.
He encouraged farmers to focus on planting sugarcane and delivering their harvests to the mill.
“With the privation of the miller, payments for delivered cane have become faster, more reliable, and timely. I urge our farmers to take advantage of this opportunity to earn a living,” Wetangula said.
The Speaker also revealed that he has engaged National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi to allocate Ksh. 2 billion in the next national budget.
The funds are earmarked for clearing arrears and settling debts owed to factory workers, a move expected to stabilise operations and restore confidence among employees and suppliers.
Wetangula was joined at the service by Kanduyi MP John Makali, area MCA Caleb Wanjala, and nominated MCA Everlyn Anyango, all of whom pledged support for the revival initiatives.
The Nzoia Sugar Factory, once a key driver of the local economy, had faced challenges including financial mismanagement and delays in payments to farmers.
The Kenya Kwanza government’s intervention aims to restore full functionality, secure farmers’ livelihoods, and reinforce the sugarcane industry as a source of economic growth in Western Kenya.
Farmers have welcomed the assurances, expressing optimism that timely payments and government support will encourage increased production and rejuvenate the local sugar economy.
The revival of Nzoia is seen as a crucial step in addressing long-standing issues in Kenya’s sugar sector, which has been plagued by factory inefficiencies and financial arrears that have historically undermined farmers’ income.
This initiative marks another milestone in the government’s efforts to strengthen agribusiness and support rural livelihoods.