Sugarcane farmers will go to the polls on November 24 to elect their representatives to the Kenya Sugar Board, reviving an election that was frozen by the High Court two months ago.

The Kenya Sugar Board Grower Directors Election Committee announced the date in a notice dated October 30, issued under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and confirmed that the final voters' register has been published.

"The election of grower representatives to the Kenya Sugar Board will be carried out on 24th November, 2026," the notice states, adding that the process "will be undertaken in compliance with the applicable governing legal framework and court orders."

Check the register

The register, which lists eligible voters, is available on the Board's website and displayed at designated places in the sugar zones so that growers can confirm their details before polling day. The committee, chaired by Harun Khator, cited Rule 9(7) of the Procedure for Election of Grower Representatives to the Kenya Sugar Board, 2025, as the basis for publishing it.

Polling hours and individual polling stations have not yet been announced, and growers have been urged to follow official communication from the committee.

A long road to the ballot

The election is anchored in Section 6 of the Sugar Act, No. 11 of 2024, which revived the Kenya Sugar Board and gave farmers seats at the table. Reports indicate five grower representatives will be elected.

  • May 12: the committee invited applications from interested people in each sugar catchment area.
  • August 7: the application window was extended.
  • August 20: the final list of candidates was published.
  • September: the High Court issued interim conservatory orders in a case filed by a group of petitioners, and the committee suspended the exercise, which had been set for September 5.

It is not yet clear how the court dispute was resolved, but the committee says the new date respects existing court orders.

Why it matters to farmers

The vote comes at a critical time for the sugar industry, which is undergoing major reforms, including the leasing of public mills to private investors and expansion of milling capacity in western Kenya and the North Rift. Grower representatives on the Board will have a say in policies on cane pricing, payments and regulation of millers.

Farmer lobbies have long complained that growers were sidelined in decisions affecting the sector, leaving them exposed to delayed payments and poor cane prices. A board with elected farmer voices is seen as a step towards giving the hundreds of thousands of families who depend on cane a stronger hand.

Photos: The Star. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.