Former employees of Mumias Sugar Factory have vowed to take legal action against the company for failing to clear arrears totaling KSh 2.4 billion. The workers, who staged a peaceful protest, accused the government of neglecting their plight despite promises to address their grievances.
Led by their union chairman, Patrick Mutimba, the ex-employees decried the harsh conditions they have endured due to the delayed payments. Many have faced evictions, family separations, and mounting hardships, with some reportedly dying from the stress of financial instability.
“We were never paid. Some of us are dying, and families are breaking apart,” lamented former worker Oba Aura. “We are pleading with the President to intervene because only he can help us.”
Mutimba criticized the Ministry of Agriculture for ignoring Mumias workers’ welfare, even after President William Ruto pledged to settle arrears for agricultural workers. He questioned why other companies in Nyanza had been paid while Mumias employees continue to suffer.
The workers issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government and Sarrai Group, the current investor managing the factory, to settle their dues. Failure to comply, they warned, would result in industrial action and legal proceedings.
“If the government and receiver-manager don’t pay us within two weeks, we’ll move to court,” said John Shihundu, another former employee.
Mumias Sugar, once a giant in Kenya’s sugar industry, has struggled under receivership due to massive debts, stakeholder disputes, and competition from imported sugar. Workers remain hopeful that President Ruto will fulfill his promises.
“We believed in him and celebrated his commitment,” said Ann Wekhomba, a former worker. “We’re still waiting for him to deliver on his word.”