Senator Cheruiyot petitions CJ Martha Koome over court cases delaying Sugar Act

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has petitioned Chief Justice Martha Koome to expedite the resolution of court cases that have stalled the implementation of the Sugar Act (Kenya) 2024, which was assented to by President William Ruto in November 2024.

In a petition signed by 16 Senators from sugar-growing counties, the lawmakers urged the Chief Justice to consolidate and fast-track multiple cases filed in different High Courts across the country challenging various provisions of the law.

The senators represent Kericho, Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nandi, Narok, Siaya, Trans Nzoia, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu counties.

Speaking on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, Cheruiyot said the legislation took nearly six years of deliberations in Parliament before it was finally passed in 2024.

“We passed the Sugar Bill in 2024 after almost six years of haggling. Remember in the last Parliament up until June 2022, we were still trying to pass the Bill but we did not succeed,” he said.

Cheruiyot noted that a significant number of the lawmakers represent constituencies where sugarcane farming is a major economic activity, making the continued legal delays a matter of concern.

“Unfortunately, since the passage of that law, there have been case after case filed in different High Courts across the country,” he said.

He added that he had urged colleagues from sugar-producing counties to jointly petition the Chief Justice to ensure the cases are consolidated and determined within the shortest time possible.

“We must come together and write to the Chief Justice and ask that all those cases be consolidated, heard and determined in the shortest time possible in the interest of millions of Kenyans who depend on sugarcane as an economic activity,” he said.

In their petition, the senators said the enactment of the law had initially given farmers hope after years of policy uncertainty in the sugar sector.

“We the undersigned Senators, representing sugar-producing counties, write to bring to your attention very serious concerns from our constituents,” the petition states.

“The Sugar Bill was assented to by H.E. President William Ruto into law on November 1, 2024. After six years of deliberations in Parliament, its signing signalled a new lease of hope to sugar farmers from across the country.”

However, the lawmakers noted that farmers have yet to benefit from the reforms due to ongoing litigation challenging several aspects of the law, including the establishment of the sugar board and the election of its directors.

“In our assessment, the myriad of cases filed against the establishment of the sugar board, election of directors, as well as other provisions in the law need to be resolved expeditiously in the interest of justice,” the petition states.

The senators also attached a list of the various cases filed in courts across the country and urged the Judiciary to prioritise their determination to allow full implementation of the law.