Fallen Giant Mumias Sugar Set To Resume Operations

Mumias Sugar Company is expected to resume sugar production in about two months despite the multitude of challenges it faces.

Sarrai Group which has leased assets of the once giant company has been conducting test runs of the mills and fixing worn-out parts including leaking pipes.

The management bought 100 tractors and trailers which cost the firm Ksh500 million, that will be used for land preparation and improve cane delivery within Mumias Sugar zone that extends to Bungoma, Busia and Siaya counties.

“We embarked on the rehabilitation and maintenance of the run-down equipment two months ago and almost 80 per cent of the work is done. We have also started buying raw material from local farmers at Sh4,562 per tonne as part of our preparations to resume sugar production,” said Stephen Kihumba, the operations manager at Sarrai Group.

“We have also embarked on an ambitious cane development project that will see us cover 1,000 acres per month. It is a costly venture because production cost per acre has shot up from about Sh60,000 to about Sh100,000.”

Mumias Sugar Company has an 8,700-acre nucleus estate. “We have been able to plant sugarcane on 300 acres of the nucleus estate and we are in the process of ploughing the rest of the land,” said Kihumba.

Mr. Kihumba said they will be sourcing certified early maturing seed cane from Sugar Research Institute in Kisumu which has developed different varieties recommended for farmers in Western Kenya.

The factory was a hive of activity on Wednesday with workers busy identifying faulty equipment and replacing worn-out components.

Sarrai Group had disclosed that 99 per cent of the company’s former employees have been retained. “They are helping us identify some of the challenges which we area gradually addressing as we move closer to attaining our target of reviving the sugar miller,” said Kihumba.

Although the sugar firm has not been able to produce any sugar, Kihumba said Kenyans should expect the leading brand back on the shelves in the coming weeks.

Article By Sally Lizwa