Migori leaders have renewed calls for the national government to pay former South Nyanza Sugar Company Sony Sugar employees who lost their jobs during the restructuring of the company.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The former workers are demanding payment of salary arrears, terminal benefits, and other employment dues that remain outstanding following the changes at the sugar mill.

Awendo MP Walter Owino said the payments owed to workers who were rendered redundant were long overdue, noting that the government had previously committed to settling the arrears by the end of last year.

“Payment arrears for Sony employees who are rendered redundant and are yet to be paid are long overdue. They were supposed to be sorted by the government by the end of last year,” Owino said.

📌 What You Need to Know

The calls come after Sony Sugar underwent restructuring as part of government efforts to revive struggling state-owned sugar companies. In May 2025, operations at the mill were handed over to Busia Sugar Industry under a 30-year lease.

“Sony as a company was taken over by a private sector player, and I would like to appreciate the private sector for what they are doing about Sony as far as paying farmers for the cane as they deliver it. They do so in a week, and the rates are good,” Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko said.

The development comes amid wider changes in Kenya's sugar industry, including a revision of the minimum sugarcane price from Ksh5,750 to Ksh5,500 per tonne in April 2026. The Kenya Sugar Board directed millers to implement the new price and ensure farmers receive prompt payments.

The revised price followed consultations by the 4th Interim Sugarcane Pricing Committee, which considered prevailing market conditions, rising sugar production, farmer earnings and the sustainability of millers.

However, improved payment of farmers has not resolved concerns over liabilities accumulated before the private takeover, with former employees continuing to demand settlement of their outstanding dues.

The workers’ grievances are part of the wider financial difficulties that affected Sony Sugar before the restructuring. In 2025, workers reported that they were owed about Ksh350 million in salary arrears covering 19 months between April 2019 and December 2020.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke