Sugar Prices Fall After Kenya Ends COMESA Import Protection

By Robai Ludenyi

Sugar prices in Kenya have started to decline following the end of a long‑standing protection arrangement under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The decision has opened the door for more sugar imports into the country, increasing supply in the market and easing the pressure that consumers had been facing from high prices.

For years, Kenya had enjoyed special protection under COMESA that limited the amount of sugar entering the country from other member states. The arrangement was meant to shield local sugar factories from strong competition while they worked on improving efficiency and production. However, the safeguard period has now come to an end, allowing more sugar from regional producers to enter the Kenyan market freely.

With more sugar now arriving from countries within the COMESA trade bloc, traders say the increased supply is slowly pushing prices down in many towns across the country. Consumers who had been struggling with rising food costs are beginning to see some relief as retailers adjust their prices.

Over the past year, the cost of sugar had climbed sharply due to limited production by local mills, high operating costs, and challenges faced by farmers. Many households complained that the price of the basic commodity had become too expensive, forcing some families to cut back on consumption.

The arrival of imported sugar is now helping to stabilise the situation. Traders say that the increased availability of the product is creating competition in the market, which is naturally forcing prices to adjust downward. While the drop has not been dramatic in every region, the trend is beginning to show in several retail outlets.

At the same time, the change has raised fresh concerns about the future of Kenya’s sugar factories. Local millers have long argued that they struggle to compete with producers from other countries where production costs are lower and farming is more efficient. Without protection from imports, some factories may face even greater financial pressure.

Farmers who grow sugarcane are concerned about the global supply. Many depend on the crop for their income, and any slowdown in local milling operations could affect their earnings. Some growers fear that if factories buy less cane, farmers could be left with unsold harvests

For ordinary consumers, the immediate impact is clear. The gradual drop in sugar prices is offering some relief at a time when many households are dealing with the rising cost of living. Whether the lower prices will last will depend on how local production, imports, and market demand balance out in the coming months.

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