· The latest data published by Sugar Directorate of Kenya indicates that Billionaire Rai family controls nearly half of the sales in the last six months
· According to the data, the three firms owned by the Rai family-controlled 45 percent of the total sales.
The latest data published by Sugar Directorate of Kenya indicates that Billionaire Rai family controls nearly half of the sales in the last six months. According to the data, the three firms owned by the Rai family controlled 45 percent of the total sales. Last year, their share stood around 41 percent market. The other companies with notable share are West Kenya at 29 percent followed by Sukari Industries at 11 percent with Olepito coming third with two percent of the total 292,040 sales reported between January and June.
Private mills contributed significantly to the sugar production with West Kenya and Butali Sugar accounting for 28 percent and 15 percent of the total production, respectively. The performance of state-owned mills declined drastically with a number of them remaining closed during the review period. Some of them like Mumias and South Nyanza Sugar Companies have been closed for nearly two years. It is reported that the government is proposing to lease out all its factories to strategic investors. The objective is to give them a new lease of life through fresh capital injection to improve productivity and cut on imports.
