Agriculture PS Ordered To Provide Sugar Company Lease Records
The government has been given a 21-day deadline to provide all papers related to the contentious leasing of four public sugar firms, or some officials would face legal action.
The Office of the Ombudsman issued a formal demand letter directing the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Agriculture to disclose the required records or face prosecution.
The ultimatum was issued in response to a complaint filed by a citizen who requested information on July 29.
The individual requested complete transparency of how Muhoroni, Nzoia, Chemelil, and Sony Sugar Company were leased to private firms.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 pic.twitter.com/b1UwHF4ngO
— Ombudsman Kenya (@KenyasOmbudsman) December 8, 2025
The individual explicitly requested letters of award, considerations considered during allocation, and lease agreements between the government and private organizations.
According to the Ombudsman, the State Department did not react to the applicant’s request, and a follow-up question from the Commission was also reportedly ignored.
The commission officially took up the matter on September 5, requesting that the PS provide an institutional report within seven days to facilitate its review. Once again, the PS allegedly failed to comply.
“Following the failure by the PS to respond to the Commission’s letter, the Commission pursuant to Powers granted by Section 22(3)(a)(i) of the Access to Information Act 2016, determined that the information requested may contain information which is subject to limitations under Section 6(1), Access to Information Act, 2016,” a letter from the Ombudsman read.
The commission decided to use its powers under Section 23(2)(a) of the Access to Information Act to issue binding orders directing the PS to release all relevant records.
According to the commission, all disclosures must be made “in strict compliance with the law” to ensure completeness and correctness, and the Agriculture PS has 21 days from the date of the order to comply.
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In May, four sugar companies, South Nyanza, Nzoia, Chemelil, and Muhoroni, were officially handed over to private players under a 30-year lease agreement in a move that attracted criticism, particularly from opposition outfits.
Busia Sugar Industry Ltd took over South Nyanza, West Kenya Sugar Company Ltd leased Nzoia, Kibos Sugar & Allied Industries Ltd acquired Chemelil, while West Valley Sugar Company Ltd assumed control of Muhoroni.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has since insisted that the move was productive, since lease proceeds will directly benefit local communities through bonuses paid to farmers.
Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe
Agriculture PS Ordered To Provide Sugar Company Lease Records
