Over 30,000 Sugar Workers Issue Strike Notice Over KSh10.8bn Unpaid Salary Arrears

The temporary closure of some milling operations in 2025 to implement reforms, and the imposition of the Sugar Development Levy, reflect deeper structural challenges within the sector. Union leaders and county politicians have criticised the slow pace of arrears payment and the handling of layoffs and redundancies, arguing that government commitments are not matched by action.

In 2025, Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) clashed with labour authorities over redundancies tied to mill restructuring, accusing officials of abandoning job creation priorities amid already high unemployment.

Past protests and stoppages have also highlighted long-standing wage issues at sugar companies. For instance, in 2025, Sony Sugar workers downed tools to demand KSh350 million in unpaid wages, illustrating persistent payment disputes even before the larger arrears crisis erupted.

The looming strike affects not only workers but also thousands of families and local economies in sugar-producing counties across Western and Nyanza regions. Many households in these areas rely on regular pay from mills to meet basic needs such as school fees, food and healthcare, and disruptions could add to economic stress in communities where alternative employment opportunities are limited.

Trade unions argue that failure to address salary arrears in a timely and transparent manner could undermine confidence in ongoing reform efforts and jeopardise social stability in the sector. To date, the Ministry of Agriculture has not publicly responded to the latest strike notice.

However, earlier government statements acknowledged arrears as a priority and outlined phased payment plans as part of the sugar sector recovery strategy. With the strike deadline approaching, pressure will intensify on both government and private mill operators to address the arrears and avert an industrial stoppage that could further disrupt the already fragile sugar sector.