KISUMU, Kenya,19th December -The Kenya Union of Sugarcane Plantation and Allied Workers (KUSPAW) has called a nationwide strike starting Monday after the government failed to pay salary and terminal benefits arrears owed to workers at leased state-owned sugar mills, amounting to about Sh.1.9 billion.
Union General Secretary Francis Wangara said workers at the four mills, Muhoroni, Chemelil, Nzoia and Sony will down their tools unless payments are made or the government issues a firm, time-bound commitment before the Christmas break.
“We agreed with the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Treasury that workers’ dues would be paid by November and before Christmas. To date, there has been no communication or commitment from government,” Wangara said.
Addressing the media in his office in Kisumu on Friday, Wangara said the arrears cover workers declared redundant following the transition to private management, as well as staff who were absorbed by the new operators but are still owed part of their benefits.
According to the union, the private millers reduced the workforce after taking over operations, leaving some employees without jobs and unpaid dues.
Wangara said KUSPAW wrote to the government on December 15 demanding settlement by December 19, warning that failure to do so would trigger industrial action.
“We have not received any response. From Monday, workers should not report to work until their payments are made,” he said.
The union urged the new investors to allow workers to exercise their constitutional right to strike, insisting that the obligation to pay arrears rests with the government.
However, he said, any miller willing to pay workers and seek reimbursement from the State could proceed.
“Whichever company is ready to pay can do so and ask the government to refund,” he said.
He warned that continued silence from government would only deepen workers’ suffering and accused authorities of playing games with employees’ livelihoods.
“There is no commitment shown. We are not backing down,” he added.
Asked whether the union would pursue legal action, Wangara said the immediate focus was on securing payment through engagement with the Ministry of Labour and the transition structures overseeing the handover.
He noted that the last transition committee meeting on December 6 resolved that payments be made before Christmas, a decision that has not been implemented.
The strike threat comes amid the government’s sugar sector reforms, which include leasing state-owned sugar mills to private investors to revive production, improve efficiency and reduce losses.
Under the programme, private operators took over the management of Muhoroni, Chemelil, Nzoia and Sony sugar companies earlier this year.
The leasing arrangements were expected to stabilise operations while the State settled legacy debts, including workers’ salary arrears and terminal benefits.
However, months into the transition, the union says outstanding salary and dues, including retirement benefits, estimated to be over Sh. 10 billion, remain unpaid, fuelling labour unrest and raising questions about the pace and effectiveness of the reform programs.
