By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 14 June 2026 - Peter Midodo has officially entered the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) elections for the South Nyanza region, unveiling a bold and reform-driven manifesto aimed at transforming the sugar sector and restoring fairness to thousands of cane farmers across Transmara, the SoNy Sugar belt, and the Sukari milling corridor in Ndhiwa.
Framing his campaign under the rallying call “Tiang Nyaka Riti – Sugarcane Must Be Guarded,” he positions his bid as a moral and economic crusade to protect farmers from long-standing exploitation, delayed payments, and opaque pricing systems that have weakened the region’s sugar economy.
In his detailed agenda, Bishop Midodo demands a complete shift in how sugarcane is measured and paid for, insisting that payments must be based strictly on kilograms delivered to eliminate guesswork, manipulation, and disputed deductions that have for years disadvantaged farmers. To reinforce transparency at the point of sale, he proposes the deployment of mobile weighbridges directly at farm gates so that cane is weighed where it is harvested, ensuring accountability before transportation to factories and reducing opportunities for post-harvest tampering.
A central pillar of his manifesto is the call for farmers to benefit from the full value chain of sugar production. He argues that growers must receive a share of earnings from by-products such as molasses and other cane derivatives, insisting that since these products originate from farmers’ sweat and land, excluding them from secondary revenues is unjust and economically unsustainable. He further demands that all millers commit to paying farmers within three days of cane delivery, a reform he says would inject liquidity into rural households, reduce dependency on credit, and stabilize livelihoods in sugar-dependent communities.
Bishop Midodo also turns attention to farm input financing, calling for strict regulation of interest rates charged on fertilizers, seedlings, and other agricultural inputs to ensure they remain fair, transparent, and affordable for smallholder farmers. In addition, he introduces a tough accountability mechanism requiring millers to compensate farmers with interest whenever payments are delayed beyond agreed timelines, arguing that financial discipline must apply equally across the value chain.
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His manifesto further addresses harvesting inefficiencies, insisting that millers must adhere to strict harvesting schedules once cane is mature. He warns that delays in harvesting lead to significant losses in sugar content and income for farmers, and therefore any failure to harvest on time should attract penalties or compensation payable directly to affected growers. According to him, this would enforce discipline among millers and ensure that farmers are treated as equal stakeholders rather than passive suppliers in the industry.
Overall, Bishop Midodo’s entry into the KSB race signals a high-stakes push for structural reform in Kenya’s sugar sector. His message is clear and uncompromising: sugarcane must be protected, farmers must be empowered, and the entire value chain must be rebuilt on fairness, transparency, and accountability.