Rai Group plans US$32 million sugar factory in Kenya
The new facility in Nandi County will process 1,500 tonnes of sugarcane daily, creating jobs and boosting local incomes.
Rai Group's subsidiary, West Kenya Sugar Co., will invest US$32 million (Kes 4.2 billion) to build a new sugar factory in Saniak Village, Nandi County. The factory is designed to process 1,500 tonnes of sugarcane per day, with plans to double its capacity. The project's Environmental and Social Impact Assessment report details the facility's components, including a mill house, power house, and an effluent treatment plant.
The investment is expected to create direct and indirect employment and encourage farmers to increase sugarcane production. The assessment report suggests potential improvements in household incomes and food security. Rai Group, which owns Kabras Sugar, has over 30,000 acres under sugarcane cultivation through farmer partnerships.
The proposed factory will increase the group's processing capacity, adding to its existing mills: West Kenya Sugar, Olepito, Sukari, and Naitiri. In May 2025, West Kenya Sugar leased Nzoia Sugar's factory and estate for 30 years. Mills under the Rai family are projected to have a combined daily processing capacity exceeding 18,000 tonnes of sugarcane.
Why it mattersKenyan farmers in Nandi County will have a new market for their sugarcane, potentially increasing their incomes and food security.