Kenya has officially exited the COMESA Sugar Safeguard regime after 24 years.
This, according to Kenya Sugar Board CEO Jude Chesire, marks a decisive and confident transition for the country’s sugar industry.
‘The safeguard, which lapsed on 30th November 2025, had fully achieved its objective as a temporary, reform-driven instrument to stabilise and restructure the sector,” he says.
According to Chesire, the transition reflects strength and a reflection that Kenya’s sugar industry is stable, well-managed, and supported by clear policy direction.
He adds that Farmers, millers, workers, and investors are assured that the exit from the safeguard does not expose the sector to disruption, but rather signals readiness to compete within a structured and fair regional market.