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A shocking attack on Chemelil Sugar Academy has ignited a political and economic storm, with Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga now linking the violence to deep-rooted commercial battles over control of Kenya’s lucrative sugar sector.
Speaking days after a gang of nearly 30 armed men stormed the school on June 18, leaving at least 10 people injured, Odinga dismissed the incident as mere criminality, instead framing it as a symptom of a much larger and more dangerous conflict unfolding across the sugar belt.
“This was not random thuggery,” she said. “It was born out of a dispute over control—of accounts, of fees, and ultimately of power tied to our sugar industry.”
The brazen assault saw students, staff, and suppliers attacked in broad daylight, sparking outrage across Kisumu County and beyond. But according to Odinga, the real story lies beneath the surface—within the controversial leasing of state-owned sugar millers and the scramble for influence and resources.
She argues that the dispute surrounding Chemelil Sugar Company has spilled over into community institutions, including schools, turning them into battlegrounds for control.
“If we treat this as a simple criminal act, we will miss the truth—and we will repeat this tragedy elsewhere,” she warned.
Odinga is now demanding a full, independent investigation that goes beyond arresting the attackers to uncover the financiers and beneficiaries behind the violence.
Her call raises urgent questions about governance, accountability, and the unintended consequences of privatizing public assets in Kenya’s struggling sugar sector.
Drawing parallels with developments at Muhoroni Sugar Company, Odinga painted a grim picture of dashed hopes following the leasing of sugar factories.
Workers who initially welcomed reforms now face massive job losses, with employment reportedly dropping from over 1,000 workers to about 300—far below the mandated 80% retention threshold.
Trade unions, she says, have been sidelined, while employees endure reduced salaries, increased workloads, and deteriorating working conditions.
“We are even hearing of deaths linked to stress in these factories. This demands urgent investigation,” she said.
The legislator also raised alarm over alleged manipulation in cane weighing systems, claiming farmers are being underpaid due to tampered weighbridges.
In a further twist, she alleged that sugar milled in Kisumu is being recorded and taxed in neighboring Kericho County—potentially depriving Kisumu residents of critical revenue.
Meanwhile, land disputes in Koguta and tensions at Chemelil Sugar Company continue to fuel unrest.
Odinga hinted at deeper controversies surrounding Miwani Sugar Company, particularly its acquisition by Crossley Holdings, though she withheld details citing the sensitivity of ongoing disputes.
She promised a separate statement addressing the matter, signaling more revelations ahead in Kenya’s embattled sugar industry.
The ODM lawmaker is now pushing for an urgent multi-stakeholder meeting bringing together investors, workers, farmers, parents, and regional leaders.
She has also called on the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary to clarify unresolved issues surrounding the leasing program, while demanding transparency from the Transition Committee, whose mandate now runs until June 2027.
“We were promised a thriving sugar belt. What we are seeing instead is conflict, suffering, and exploitation,” Odinga said.
As investigations loom, the Chemelil Academy attack has become more than a security incident—it is now a flashpoint in a high-stakes struggle over land, labor, and billions in sugar revenues.
Whether authorities will confront the deeper forces at play—or allow the cycle of violence to continue—remains the defining question.
