Nairobi: Kenya has imposed a ban on sugar imports from countries outside the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC), citing a boost in local production. Andrew Karanja, the cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, announced the decision in a statement from Nairobi on Tuesday, reported The Independent.
Karanja clarified that Kenya’s domestic sugar output was pretty high, and the country’s production this year was expected to cross over 800,000 metric tonnes. Thus, the government did not open the import window for sugar from nations outside of COMESA and EAC.
He said that Kenya has managed to produce, on average, 700,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually in the last four years from 16 factories, peaking at 800,000 tonnes in 2022. In a rather sharp contrast, Karanja observed that the beginning of 2023 was quite different, with a severe drought leading to suppressed sugar output and significant imports required to make up for the shortfall.
The average annual sugar consumption in Kenya is about 950,000 metric tonnes, and the shortfall has traditionally been covered by imports from COMESA and EAC countries under trade agreements. Karanja said Kenya temporarily allowed sugar imports from outside these regions to protect consumers from high prices.
He added that the current imports from COMESA and EAC are supported by sugar safeguards, which are set to expire in February 2025. Additionally, Karanja stressed that Kenya has increased security efforts to curb illegal sugar smuggling through its borders and remains committed to honouring free trade agreements with its regional partners.
COMESA is a regional economic bloc of 21 member states, while the EAC is an intergovernmental organization made up of eight partner states.
