Sugar workers threaten strike over Sh2.7 billion salary arrears

The Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers has threatened to cripple sugar production to demand salary arrears. The workers say they will down their tools starting Thursday to push for the release of their salary arrears totalling 2.7 billion shillings. The union’s Secretary General, Francis Wangara, called on millers to initiate a shutdown of the mills to cushion them from the losses that will arise from the strike. The government had pledged to pay up to 5.6 billion shillings in arrears owed to sugar sector stakeholders upon the leasing of the public sugar factories in 2025.