Nzoia Sugar Workers Stage Demos Over Ksh.10.8B Salaries, Bonuses
Five thousand workers from four sugar mills have gone on strike, demanding payment of delayed salary and accrued bonuses totaling Ksh 10.8 billion.
The workers promised to halt operations, accusing the government of lacking goodwill in settling the debts.
On Thursday, workers at the Nzoia Sugar Factory organized a protest, disrupting transportation along the Webuye-Eldoret Highway.
The Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers announced the walkout across four leased sugar facilities, with employees seeking payment of three-year-old benefits and salary arrears.
Workers and retirees of Nzoia Sugar Factory held a peaceful protest from the factory gate to Bukembe Market, accusing the government of misleading them about privatization and decrying poor school conditions.#SulweFM pic.twitter.com/nPyIHE9dWe
— Sulwe FM (@SulweFM) January 29, 2026
“The arrears we are claiming amount to Ksh.10.8 billion for the entire sugar industry,” said Mirriam Wanyama, a worker at Nzoia.
“They know very well because they sat down and did the calculations, then later started distorting the figures. They have all the records.”
“Hardship, depression and emotional strain are hurting retirees because for a long time the government has been promising to pay them,” said Johnstone Juma, a retiree from Nzoia.
Union Secretary General Francis Wangara claimed that some workers were being coerced into not participating in the strike, and he encouraged industrial lessees to assist in settling the impasse.
Nzoia Sugar Company workers protest over unpaid wages, amounting to KSh10 billion. #TV47News pic.twitter.com/BVyXUQfGxx
— TV 47 Digital (@tv47digital) January 29, 2026
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“If they can arrange with the government so that these arrears are sorted out and then the government compensates them, the better,” said Francis Wangara, Secretary General of KUSPAW.
“These companies are not entirely private; they are still under government, so this is something that might work.”
During the lease procedure, the government pledged to pay Ksh 10.8 billion to sugar industry participants. The payment was to be paid in installments between October 2025 and June 2026.
However, employees at the Nzoia, Chemelil, Muhoroni, and Sony sugar companies claim they have yet to receive compensation.
Nzoia Sugar Workers Stage Demos Over Ksh.10.8B Salaries, Bonuses
