Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
Speaking in Kisumu during his five-day tour of the Nyanza region on Monday, Ruto defended his administration’s record, citing projects and reforms in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and the economy as evidence of progress.
The stakeholders on Saturday in Machakos County presented their views before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, chaired by Tigania West MP John Mutunga, as lawmakers scrutinise the proposed legislation.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki led the criticism of the opposition during a meeting with UDA polling centre officials at Kinoru Stadium in Meru.
Sifuna argued that younger leaders were more attuned to the challenges facing ordinary Kenyans and questioned what level of experience was required to identify and tackle problems affecting key sectors of the economy
Kagwe said the government would continue limiting sugar imports as part of wider efforts to support local producers and make the country’s sugar industry more competitive.
Kibos Sugar, Busia Sugar Industry Limited and Sony Sugar told MPs that Kenya needs duty-remission imports to meet industrial demand for refined sugar, arguing that limited local refining capacity makes refined sugar imports for processing a necessity. They also said smuggling through porous borders poses a bigger threat than legally imported sugar.
The company said it has invested about Sh1.5 billion in establishing and expanding its operations. Its factory has an installed crushing capacity of 2,500 tonnes of cane per day but is currently processing an average of 2,000 tonnes daily, equivalent to about 80 per cent of its capacity.
The initiative is expected to revive sugarcane farming along the Coast, create thousands of jobs, reduce the country's reliance on imported sugar and stimulate economic activity across Kwale and neighbouring counties.
Data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that sugar production rose by 21.98 per cent to 348,143 tonnes between January and May this year, compared to 285,418 tonnes produced during the same period in 2025.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Mbadi said the exemption from the Import Declaration Fee (IDF) and Railway Development Levy (RDL) followed consultations involving the National Treasury, the ministries responsible for Agriculture and Trade, and other government agencies.
The National Treasury had first proposed a specific excise duty of Sh7.5 per kilogram on imported sugar, with exemptions for sugar meant for pharmaceutical use and licensed refiners.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki opened the 68th International Sugar Organization Seminar at Diani Beach Resort in Kwale County, saying reforms aim to boost efficiency, investment and value addition in Kenya’s sugar sector.