Fresh Legal Battle Threatens Kenya Sugar Board Elections as CEO Warns Against 'Holding Farmers at Ransom'

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 5 June 2026 - The long-awaited elections for the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) have once again been thrown into uncertainty after a fresh court case was filed seeking to stop the polls, prompting the Board to seek legal intervention from the Office of the Attorney General.

The latest dispute comes barely weeks after the High Court dismissed an earlier petition that had challenged the elections under the new sugar sector governance framework established by the Sugar Act.

The court had cleared the way for the elections to proceed, raising hopes among stakeholders that the industry would finally elect farmer representatives to the Board.

However, a fresh petition filed by another sugar farmer from Western Kenya has reignited the controversy. The petitioner is reportedly seeking a review of polling arrangements and representation zones, a move that has once again stalled preparations for the nationwide exercise.

Faced with the renewed legal hurdle, the Kenya Sugar Board has written to Attorney General Dorcas Oduor seeking legal guidance and intervention to ensure the elections proceed.

KSB Chief Executive Officer Jude Chesire said the Board cannot allow a handful of litigants to frustrate a process affecting hundreds of thousands of sugar farmers across the country.

"We cannot allow a few farmers to hold the entire industry at ransom. Registration of farmers eligible to participate in the elections has already been concluded and the Board is now seeking legal redress to ensure the process moves forward," said Chesire.

The CEO indicated that the Board is exploring legal options that could allow elections to proceed in undisputed zones while contested areas await court determination.

Background of the Dispute

The elections are a critical component of the implementation of the new Sugar Act, legislation that was enacted to reform governance in Kenya's sugar industry following years of complaints over inefficiency, political interference and lack of farmer representation.

The law provides for the election of farmer representatives to the Kenya Sugar Board, a body charged with regulating and overseeing the sector. The elections are intended to give growers a direct voice in policy formulation, licensing, regulation and industry development.

However, implementation of the Act has faced repeated legal challenges.

Impact on the Sugar Sector

The delay has left the Kenya Sugar Board operating without elected farmer representatives envisaged under the new law. Industry stakeholders argue that the prolonged uncertainty has slowed key policy decisions affecting sugar pricing, licensing, imports, farmer welfare programmes and sector reforms.

Observers say the continued legal battles risk undermining implementation of one of the most significant reforms in the sugar industry in decades.

The elections are viewed as crucial to restoring farmer confidence in sector governance, particularly at a time when the government is pursuing broader reforms aimed at reviving struggling sugar mills and improving returns to growers.

With the Board now seeking legal advice from the Attorney General and considering options to conduct polls in uncontested regions, attention shifts back to the courts, whose next ruling could determine whether the sugar industry's democratic transition proceeds or faces yet another delay.

For thousands of cane farmers across Western, Nyanza, Coast and South Rift sugar zones, the prolonged court battles have become a test of whether the promises contained in the new Sugar Act can finally be translated into functioning institutions and farmer-led governance.