Wamuzi News Ke
Homa Bay Town MP Hon. George Peter Kaluma, CBS, has unleashed a scathing attack on the state of sugarcane farming in Kenya, branding it a “poverty crop” and a “direct visa to poverty” under current conditions.
Taking to social media platform X, Kaluma condemned decades of political rhetoric surrounding sugarcane revival in Nyanza and Western Kenya, accusing leaders of using the industry as a mere campaign slogan while farmers continue to suffer in extreme poverty.
“As it currently stands in Kenya, sugarcane is a poverty crop and sugarcane farming a direct visa to poverty,” Kaluma declared.
His remarks come amid ongoing government-led reforms in the sugar sector, including the controversial leasing of state-owned sugar factories. The MP endorsed these efforts, calling them “necessary” for restoring profitability to a once-thriving sector.
Kaluma went further, directing rare praise to President William Ruto for what he described as “timely intervention” to revive sugarcane farming. In a sharp dig at fellow politicians, Kaluma urged the President to “shut your ears” to those who have “built a career croaking themselves hoarse about supporting the sector while actually doing nothing.”
“They have built political careers while farmers are pushed deep into poverty and destitution,” he said.
The remarks have ignited a political firestorm, particularly in Western and Nyanza regions where sugarcane farming has long been a political hotbed. Some leaders have welcomed Kaluma’s blunt honesty, while others are accusing him of betrayal and political grandstanding.
The sugar sector has been on life support for years, plagued by corruption, mismanagement, collapsed factories, delayed farmer payments, and fierce competition from cheap sugar imports. Recent government efforts to lease factories to private operators have been met with both hope and skepticism.
Kaluma’s statement signals a turning point, calling out political doublespeak and signaling possible shifts in regional alliances and discourse.
What This Means for Farmers
For thousands of struggling sugarcane farmers, Kaluma’s words echo their frustrations — a cry for real reform after decades of broken promises. The pressure is now on both local and national leaders to move beyond slogans and deliver tangible, sustainable solutions.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: sugarcane politics in Kenya may never be the same again.
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