Lusaka Backs Sugar Sector Reforms, Calls for Seamless Staff Transition at National Agriculture Forum
By Mwibanda
NAIROBI — Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has endorsed the ongoing privatization of state-owned sugar factories, calling it a vital intervention to breathe new life into Kenya’s struggling sugar sector and spur economic revival across the country’s sugar belt.
Speaking during a high-level consultative forum between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the Council of Governors (CoG), Lusaka urged the government to fast-track the reforms, arguing that investor confidence and operational efficiency depend on swift, decisive action.
“This is not just about economics—it’s about restoring dignity to our farmers,” Lusaka said. “Privatization is the catalyst we need to attract investment, increase productivity, and stabilize the industry.”
The CoG has thrown its weight behind the reforms, viewing them as a critical lever to unlock private sector participation and modernize sugar processing operations that have long been bogged down by mismanagement and bureaucracy.
Beyond sugar, Lusaka took aim at inefficiencies in intergovernmental staffing transitions, calling for a harmonized framework to ensure continuity in key public service programs, particularly in agriculture and livestock.
“We cannot afford the disruption caused by abrupt or uncoordinated personnel changes,” he said. “There must be a seamless system that preserves institutional memory and keeps flagship projects on track.”
The forum, opened by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, focused on the sustainability of sectoral reforms and agricultural transformation across counties. Kagwe lauded the impact of World Bank-supported initiatives such as the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), the Emergency Locust Response Program (ELRP), and the Food Systems Resilience Project, noting their success in boosting food security and rural livelihoods.
He urged the World Bank to extend the implementation window for these programs, warning that several counties are still in early stages of adoption.
“We’ve seen impressive gains, but to solidify these achievements and ensure nationwide impact, we need additional time and resources,” Kagwe said.
The joint forum concluded with a resounding call for deeper collaboration between national and county governments to sustain reform momentum and deliver tangible results to farmers across the country.
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