History of Sugarcane Farming and its Socio- Economic Impact on Employees of Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma County, Kenya, 1975-2024

Sugarcane farming is an economic activity that is carried out globally. Sugarcane is a cash crop whose cultivation began in Asia. Sugarcane as a crop was introduced in Kenya in 1902 with the first factory set up in Miwani near Kisumu in 1922 and later Ramisi in the Coast region in 1927. Nzoia Sugar Company, which was established in 1975 has experienced a myriad of challenges which include inefficiencies, corruption and mismanagement whose outcomes have been delayed payments, small wages earned and unsuitable working conditions. To mitigate the mentioned challenges, the government of Kenya through previous regimes has tried to establish intervention measures such as privatization of millers and addressing corruption. However, this situation remains unresolved. Therefore, this study sought to interrogate the History of sugarcane farming and its socio-economic impact on employees of Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma County, Kenya, 1975 – 2024. The specific objectives were to:  trace the trends of sugarcane farming of Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma County, 1975 – 2024, analyse socio-economic impact of sugarcane farming on employees of Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma County, 1975 – 2024 and assess the challenges faced by employees of Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma County, 1975 – 2024. The study adopted Karl Gunnar Myrdal’s theory of cumulative and cyclical interdependence together with Amartya Kumar Sen’s theory of capability. Historical research design was used in the study. The study targeted permanent and casual employees in the four main departments in Nzoia Sugar Company namely: agriculture, factory, human resource and finance and administration, retired employees of Nzoia Sugar Company, the sub county commissioners in Bungoma County and chiefs in Kanduyi sub County. A sample size of 31 respondents was arrived at after reaching saturation point.  Primary data was collected using interview schedules, Focus Group Discussions and archival data from the Kenya National Archives. Secondary sources such as books, journals and official reports were used to corroborate the primary sources. Data was analyzed thematically and presented through narrations. The research findings indicated that, there was an upward trend in production of sugarcane in Nzoia Sugar Company in 1979-1989, which was attributed to good financial management in the factory. In the second decade, 1990-2000, the sugar factory experienced fluctuating trends in sugarcane production, while from the year 2001 to date, there has been a general downward trend in sugarcane production. A decline in the performance of the factory was linked to factors such as financial mismanagement, emergence of private sugar companies, poor credit risk management, reduction in sugarcane production and frequent break down of the processing equipment, issues of climate change, effects of compliance to regional trade agreements and reduced supply of sugarcane for milling. The people of Bungoma County benefitted from the company establishment through income obtained from labour provision, development of human capital through capacity building, development of infrastructure such as roads and bridges and establishment of market centres such as Bukembe and Nzoia markets. The employees benefited from the factory through income, provision of shelter, development of educational institutions, health services and skill development. Financial inefficiencies resulted in employees’ challenges such as delayed and low salaries, demotivation, insecurity, lack of involvement in decision making and harsh working conditions. The study recommends proper utilization of the nucleus land, restriction on land subdivision and involvement of all stakeholders in formulating policies that govern the company.