The Ministry of Agriculture has named new leaders to temporarily manage important sugar industry institutions. This comes almost a month after President William Ruto approved the Sugar Act, No. 11 of 2024 into law.
Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja announced the appointments, picking Jude Chesire as the acting Managing Director of the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) and Crispine Omondi, a skilled researcher, to lead the Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute (KSRTR).
Key Changes Under the New Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was created to improve and regulate the sugar industry in Kenya. It brings back the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) and the Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute (KSRTR), which had been merged with other institutions in the past.
CS Karanja explained, “The Act provides for the development, regulation, and promotion of the sugar industry. It establishes the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) and the Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute (KSRTR). I have appointed Acting Chief Executive Officers for both institutions.”
To guide the implementation of the Act, Karanja also announced the formation of a Transition Committee.
Jude Chesire is not new to the sugar industry. Before this appointment, he served as the director of the Sugar Directorate under the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) since April 2023.
Chesire played a big role in creating Kenya’s sugar policy. He also worked at the Kenya Sugar Board before it was merged into AFA in 2014. With his background, he is expected to guide the industry smoothly during this transition.
Crispine Omondi is a highly experienced researcher. Before this appointment, he led the sugar research institute under the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (Kalro) for six years.
From 2010 to 2013, Omondi served as the director and CEO of the Kenya Sugar Research Foundation (KESREF) before it was merged into Kalro. Earlier in his career, he worked as the deputy director of the Coffee Research Foundation (CRF) in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
Under the new law, the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) will now manage and regulate the sugar industry, taking over roles previously handled by AFA.
The Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute (KSRTR) will focus on research related to sugar. These functions were earlier part of Kalro.
The new Sugar Act allows staff from the former Kenya Sugar Board and AFA’s Sugar Directorate to transition to the new Kenya Sugar Board.
The legislation also ensures that growers and private and public-owned sugar mills will have representatives in the Kenya Sugar Board. The Ministry will work with county governments and other stakeholders to create procedures for electing these representatives.
The coffee industry may see similar changes. The Coffee Board of Kenya could be restructured once the Coffee Bill currently in the National Assembly becomes law.
These developments aim to improve the management of Kenya’s sugar and coffee industries, ensuring better regulation and benefits for farmers and other stakeholders.
