Kenya Sugar Board CEO Chesire elected International Sugar Organization chairman

Chesire takes over from Edgar Herrera of Costa Rica in a move widely celebrated as a breakthrough for both Kenya and the African continent.

His elevation comes at a time when Africa is positioning itself as a rising force in global sugar production, export, and value addition.

Chesire’s new role is seen as an international recognition of Kenya’s sweeping sugar sector reforms, which he has played a central role in steering under the leadership of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.

The reforms have sparked a dramatic turnaround in the sugar industry. Four state-owned mills; Sony, Muhoroni, Chemelil and Nzoia were leased to private operators, unlocking long-delayed investment and efficiency.

A total of 47,123 hectares of new cane were established, sugar production surged by 76 per cent after nearly two decades of decline, and cane prices recorded an increase from Ksh.4,350 to Ksh.5,750 per tonne, significantly boosting farmer earnings.

Currently, the sector supports 250,000 direct jobs and nearly six million livelihoods, becoming one of the strongest pillars of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

As Chairman of ISO, Chesire will take on key global responsibilities that place Kenya at the center of international sugar policy.

Among them is overseeing the recruitment of a new ISO Executive Director to replace Jose Orive of Guatemala, whose 13-year tenure ends in December 2026. He will also preside over the ongoing rewrite of the ISO constitution, a major overhaul of the organization’s governance framework.

Chesire will further guide global discussions on sugar trade policy, including price stabilization, sustainability standards, bioethanol, carbon credits, and trade barriers, giving Kenya influence over decisions that shape one of the world’s most traded agricultural commodities.

His election, alongside Ambassador Ali Touré of Ivory Coast who was elected Vice Chairman, marks the strongest African representation in the organization’s history.

The appointment signals renewed confidence in Kenya’s agricultural reforms and reassures farmers, investors, and millers of the sector’s upward trajectory.