Kenya Union of Sugarcane Plantation and Allied Workers (KUSPAW) has threatened to paralyse operations in the sugar sector if the government fails to immediately release Ksh1.9 billion ($14.723 million) in salary arrears.

Addressing the media in Kisumu on Friday, KUSPAW General Secretary Francis Wangara accused the government of reneging on repeated promises to clear the arrears, saying workers had reached the dead.

Wangara said Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and his Principal Secretary Kiprono Ronoh had assured the union that the arrears would be paid by November 2025, a deadline that was later pushed to December before Christmas.

He pointed out that the National Treasury had most recently promised to release the money by the second week of January, which has now lapsed without payment.

“Nothing has been paid to date. We are totally disappointed and we must register our complaint publicly that we have not received any money, and that this is not acceptable,” Wangara said.

He said the unpaid arrears have pushed former and current sugar factory workers into hardship, noting that some have exited employment without receiving their dues, while others were struggling to meet basic needs such as school fees and healthcare.

“There are workers who have children who are supposed to go to school and families to take care of. Some have fallen sick and some have even died as a result of this frustration,” he said.

According to the union, total outstanding dues – including benefits and arrears – amount to Ksh10.8 billion ($84 million)

Wangara said the government had committed to settle the amount in phases, starting with the Ksh1.9 billion arrears, followed by additional payments totalling about Ksh4 billion ($30.97 million) by January this year but none of the payments has been made.

The arrears were accumulated during the period when several sugar companies were under parastatal management, although the union acknowledged that partial payments had previously been effected.

Wangara warned that the union would soon issue a directive to workers after concluding internal branch elections, signalling possible industrial action. He said the union had in the past issued notices for workers to down their tools but withdrew them after consultations with the government.

“This time around, we have been beaten once, we have been beaten twice, we shall not be beaten a third time. The government must be ready for confrontation,” he said.

He added that a strike would be particularly disruptive now that factories are operational, saying this is when the impact of industrial action would be felt most.

“If nothing is done immediately, then they should be prepared for anything. Our only course of action is to paralyse operations until we are paid,” he said.

He appealed to the cabinet secretaries for finance and agriculture to urgently intervene and ensure the arrears are settled without further delay.

The threat of industrial action comes at a delicate time for the sugar sector, just months after the government leased several state-owned mills to private operators as part of reforms aimed at reviving the industry.

In September last year, the government handed over Nzoia, Muhoroni, Chemelil and Sony sugar factories to private millers under long-term lease arrangements, citing the need to improve efficiency, clear debts and stabilise operations after years of losses and mismanagement.

The leasing programme was also expected to safeguard jobs, enhance cane payments to farmers and restore confidence in the sector. However, union leaders warn that a shutdown by workers over unpaid arrears could undermine the reforms and disrupt production at a time when factories are beginning to resume operations.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Chris Mahandara