By Peter K’opiyo
The Kenya Union of Sugarcane Plantation and Allied Workers (KUSPAW) has directed all its members to down their tools as of Monday, December 22, 2025.
KUSPAW leadership says the government has failed to honour the promises of paying workers’ salaries and terminal benefits, owed to them by state-owned sugar mills that amount to over Sh1.9 billion.
Unless payments are done before Monday, the union’s general secretary, Francis Wangara firmly stated that workers at Muhoroni, Chemelil, Nzoia and Sony sugar mills will down their tools demanding for their rightful share.
Moreover, Wangara also issued an alternative, urging the government to give a time-bound commitment before the Christmas break that is due.
“We agreed with the ministry of agriculture and the national treasury that workers’ dues would be paid by the end of November and before Christmas. To date, there has been no communication nor commitment from the government,” explained Wangara.
While addressing the press in Kisumu County, the KUSPAW general secretary further explained that the members who are demanding arrears include those declared redundant and laid off, following the transition to private management as well as those who were fortunate enough to be absorbed by the new private management but were still owed part of their dues.
The union claims the private management that took over the mills reduced work force but still went on to hold the pending dues of those laid off, when they took over operations. Their efforts to rescue the situation before it got out of hand has not borne any fruits yet.
“We have not received any response. On Monday, workers should not report to work until their payments are done,” declared Wangara, adding that the government had turned a blind eye on them.
While urging the new investors to allow workers to exercise their constitutional rights to demand for their payments and dues, Wangara also encouraged millers willing to pay workers and seek reimbursement from the state to go on with the process, noting that the obligation to pay the workers rests fully with the government.
“Whichever company is willing to pay, can do so and ask the government for a refund. There is no commitment shown. We are not backing down,” affirmed the KUSPAW general secretary.
Wangara further noted that the union was keen on having the payments implemented through the ministry of labour and the transition structures overseeing the handover. He adds that the last transition meeting held on December 6, resolved to have payments made before Christmas, a decision yet to be implemented.
The leasing of state-owned sugar mills was a key reform in the sugar sector aimed at clearing the stalemate in the sugar industry, and was expected to stabilise operations as the state settled legacy debts which included salaries and terminal benefits.
Over Sh10 billion of unpaid salary arrears and retirement benefits remain unpaid, and this has been the cause of labour unrest, raising questions on the pace and effectiveness of the reform program.