The move follows the expiry of the COMESA Sugar Safeguard regime on November 30, 2025, ending a protectionist framework that had shielded Kenya’s sugar sector for 24 years.
With the safeguard lifted, sugar from COMESA member states can now enter the Kenyan market more freely, increasing competition at a time when local production still falls short of national demand.
This represents a 76 per cent increase from 472,773 metric tonnes recorded in 2022, reflecting significant gains from sector reforms and improved productivity. Even so, the shortfall means imports will remain central to stabilising supply and preventing shortages.
The Kenya Sugar Board said the decision to exit the safeguard signals confidence rather than exposure. Its chief executive, Jude Chesire, described the transition as a shift from protection to competitiveness, arguing that the industry is now better positioned to compete within the regional market.
“This transition reflects strength, not vulnerability. Kenya’s sugar industry is stable, well-managed, and supported by clear policy direction,” Chesire said, adding that the move reassures farmers, millers, workers, and investors that the sector is ready for fair regional competition.
The board noted that imports from COMESA and other approved sources would be managed in a controlled and transparent manner to balance supply, maintain price stability, and protect food security without undermining local producers.
This approach, it said, is essential given fluctuating surplus availability within the region and rising demand driven by population growth.
Looking ahead, the board projects a strong medium-term outlook as milling capacity expands and farm productivity improves.
Kenya aims not only to meet domestic demand but also to achieve a sugar production surplus, positioning itself as a competitive sugar exporter within the COMESA region.
