Ruto promises to make Kenya net exporter of sugar before 2027 poll
President William Ruto has promised that Kenya will be a net exporter of sugar by the 2027 poll.
Ruto spoke in Migori County on Thursday, August 14, 2025, where he said his government is doing everything possible to boost food production.
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However, his latest pledge adds to the growing list of unfulfilled promises made during the 2022 campaigns, which critics say are yet to be delivered.
Addressing residents in Kuja, the President said, “On matters of agriculture? I can proudly stand here and tell you that we have transformed the agriculture sector in this country.
“We want to add another 9,000 acres for rice farming here in Kuja. My minister, John Mbadi, will inject Ksh500 million to boost food production. By 2027, Kenya will be a net exporter of sugar. We have issued 4 new sugar licences because we know what we are doing.”
Ruto noted that the expansion in rice farming and the revival of sugar production were part of his administration’s broader strategy to achieve food security.
He expressed confidence that with increased investment, Kenya could reverse its dependence on sugar imports and instead become a supplier to regional markets.
Questions over past promises
Yet, even as the President outlined his new commitments, questions arose about the fate of earlier pledges made in 2022.
Critics point to incomplete projects in agriculture, housing, and manufacturing, warning that new targets risk overshadowing old ones that remain unfulfilled.
Farmers in parts of Western and Nyanza regions have in recent months raised concerns over delayed payments, fluctuating market prices, and inadequate infrastructure support issues that they say must be addressed for any agricultural reforms to succeed.
Analysts have also observed that while licences and acreage expansions sound promising, the actual results will depend on timely implementation and transparency in resource allocation.
Ruto’s latest declaration was met with applause from the crowd in Migori, though some residents voiced caution, noting that similar promises had been made before without visible follow-through.
As 2027 draws closer, the delivery of these new agricultural goals will likely serve as a major test for the President’s credibility and his ability to turn campaign pledges into tangible results.
