The Kisumu government has urged police to investigate fires that have ravaged cane farms in parts Nyando, causing damage worth millions of shillings over the past three months.
Agriculture executive Ken Onyango described the fires as economic sabotage that has left farmers devastated while the arsonists remain at large.
"Farmers are suffering significant losses, and the persistent fires are threatening the future of sugar production in the region," he said.
The fires have disrupted cane development schedules and could lead to a shortage of the raw material, which may force closure of three major factories in the area.
Speaking to journalists after touring burnt sugar cane plantations around Miwani, Onyango said, although the destruction of cane was widespread in the Nyando, privately owned Kibos Sugar was the worst hit.
Kibos Sugar has since May lost 1,035 acres of sugar cane, translating to 33,268 tonnes.
The CECM said they suspected arson and sabotage. “It is curious that only Kisumu county has been affected by these fires. We have sugar factories in the neighbouring regions of Western, Rift Valley and South Nyanza but no fires have been reported there,” he said.
“We are asking law enforcers and state investigating agencies to launch immediate investigations and arrest those behind these fires.”
Onyango said Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o was concerned about the fires that are interfering with the livelihoods of hundreds of farmers.
“Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries is one of the biggest employers in Kisumu county and these fires will grossly interfere with its operations,” Onyango said.
Kibos Sugar manager Richard Sewe and corporate affairs manager Joyce Opondo said the destruction of the cane had resulted to massive losses to the miller and the farmers.
“Harvesting and crushing burnt cane leads to high operational costs and affects the quality of sugar. It also results in environmental challenges,” Opondo said.
They asked the farmers and government officials to save the industry by reporting to the police suspects behind the fires.
Silvanus Oging, a farmer, is one of the latest victims of the fires. His farm was engulfed in flames on Saturday around 4.35pm.
"I was alerted about the fire at my farm. I rushed over, but when I arrived it had already cleared across the entire 64 hectares, out of which 48 were mine. The damage is extensive and I am going to loose a lot".
Oging was expecting at least Sh8.6 million from his harvest, but now faces the uncertainty over whether or not he will recover anything at all from his ruined crop.
"I don't know when the factory will be able to harvest it because they are already overwhelmed with other cases like mine. It's heartbreaking. I was counting on a significant harvest but now that money might be out of reach," he said.
He had invested heavily in developing his sugarcane plantation that cost Sh3.6 million.
The cane farmer reported the matter to the area chief and the factory, appealing for urgent harvesting of what was left to recover even a little of his investment.
