President William Ruto's government encountered a setback on Thursday, May 25, as the plan to import 180,000 tonnes of sugar faced opposition from millers.

During a retreat in Kisumu, the millers, represented by the Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers, criticized the directive, expressing their displeasure at being excluded from the decision-making process.

They questioned why Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi did not consult them before issuing the directive on Wednesday, May 24.

"We have observed that once the government makes a decision to import sugar, it immediately appears on the shelves for sale. It is essential to ensure that the importation of sugar is carried out by the millers and not by any other party," protested the millers, insinuating ulterior motives behind the directive.

The union emphasized that they were best positioned to understand the market deficit and should spearhead the importation process.

"We will also be able to regulate and ensure that the imported sugar does not adversely affect the locally available stock," added the millers.

Additionally, the Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers opposed the government's decision to import sugar from outside the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) bloc.

They raised concerns that importing from outside COMESA could lead to flooding the market with contaminated sugar.

"We must thoroughly check the quality of the imported sugar. In the past, we had cases of mercury contamination. We need to be cautious about the origin of the sugar and ensure its safety for local consumption," they cautioned.

Linturi defended the decision to import outside COMESA, citing the need for sufficient supply. He also criticized the millers, accusing them of failing to meet the country's sugar demand.

"It is regrettable that we have to rely on imported sugar instead of producing enough within the country to sustain our market," he stated.

The local sugar production declined from 49,372 metric tonnes in March to 31,970 metric tonnes in April 2023.

As a result, sugar prices experienced a significant increase in May 2023, with a one-kilogram packet selling for Ksh240, marking a 54.5% price hike.