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Alarm as mysterious fires ravage sugarcane farms in Muhoroni and Miwani
Mumias sugarcane farm on fire in 2015. The fires at Muhoroni and Miwani follow recent blazes at Kibos Sugar, which destroyed over 1,000 acres of nucleus and outgrower farms.
A wave of mysterious fires has hit sugarcane farmlands, including the nucleus estates of Muhoroni and Miwani factories, destroying over 150 hectares in just a month.
The latest incident, which occurred on Wednesday, saw another 20 acres of mature cane razed, adding to the growing crisis. The joint receiver-manager for Muhoroni and Miwani factories, Harun Kirui, said the company had suffered losses exceeding Sh80 million due to the arson that started early February this year.
Despite numerous reports to the police, no arrests have been made, leaving the management frustrated.
Mr Kirui expressed concerns over the vulnerability of their expansive nucleus estate, especially after efforts were made to cultivate over 500 acres of sugarcane in the past year.
“It is unfortunate that the sugarcane farms are being burnt at a time when the factory has suspended its operations due to frequent breakdowns,” said Mr Kirui.
He claimed the fires could be an act of sabotage by individuals seeking to forestall a planned lease of the millers to private investors.
“The ongoing fires pose a major setback for the sugar company, which is already grappling with operational challenges. I appeal to law enforcement agencies to urgently enhance security measures to protect sugarcane farms from further destruction,” he said.
Before closing late last month, Muhoroni, which last underwent maintenance in 2021, processed only 700 tonnes of sugarcane per day, a sharp decline from its installed capacity of 2,200 tonnes per day.
The decline underscores the urgent need for factory rehabilitation. Mr Kirui disclosed that the company requires approximately Sh100 million to rehabilitate critical components such as the rotor, boiler, mills, and bearings in order to resume operations at full capacity.
The lack of funding and persistent mechanical failures have left Muhoroni's future in limbo, further compounding the woes of the sugar industry.
The fires at Muhoroni and Miwani come just months after similar incidents were reported at the neighboring Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries Limited, where mysterious blazes destroyed over 1,000 acres of both nucleus and outgrower farms.
Industry stakeholders have raised concerns over the recurrent destruction of sugarcane farms and the dire implications for the sugar sector, posing an uncertain future for farmers, factory workers, and local economies that depend on these factories for livelihood.
