NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya has officially exited the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Sugar Safeguard regime, ending 24 years of protective measures designed to shield the domestic sugar industry and signalling a major policy shift toward competitiveness and regional integration.
In a statement on Sunday, Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) CEO Jude Chesire said the safeguard, which lapsed on November 30, 2025, had achieved its purpose as a temporary, reform‑driven instrument to stabilise and restructure the country’s sugar sector.
“The Government of Kenya has formally exited the COMESA Sugar Safeguard regime after 24 years, marking a decisive and confident transition for the country’s sugar industry,” Chesire said.
“The safeguard… had fully achieved its objective as a temporary, reform‑driven instrument to stabilize and restructure the sector.”
What the Safeguard Was
Kenya first sought protection under the COMESA Sugar Safeguard in 2001 as part of the rollout of the COMESA Free Trade Area, intending to limit duty‑free imports and protect a fragile local industry while it underwent reform.
Under this system, annual imports from COMESA countries were capped at a tariff‑rate quota, aimed at shielding domestic producers from sudden influxes of low‑priced sugar that could undermine local production.
We have formally exited the COMESA Sugar Safeguard regime
Industry Recovery and Reforms
Cheshire noted that structural reforms over the years have strengthened the sector and shifted policy emphasis from protection to competitiveness, value addition and diversification.
Kenya’s sugar production has recovered strongly, with sugarcane acreage expanding significantly and output increasing, bringing domestic production closer to meeting national demand.
He said the industry is now focusing on treating sugarcane as an industrial raw material, manufacturing products such as ethanol, electricity from bagasse, paper and industrial alcohols, rather than relying solely on table sugar production.
Regional Market and Competition
The exit means Kenya will fully open its sugar market to regional competition, allowing duty‑free sugar imports from COMESA member states without safeguard limitations.
Analysts say this move could intensify competition for local millers while potentially lowering sugar prices for consumers.
Despite the exit, the Kenya Sugar Board emphasised that the country will continue to supplement domestic supply responsibly through imports from both COMESA and other approved sources to maintain price stability and food security.
Structural Reforms Still Underway
The sugar sector has undergone “deep and irreversible structural reforms,” including the transition of former state‑owned sugar mills to long‑term private leasing, a move aimed at restoring efficiency and accountability.
Chesire stressed that exiting the safeguard does not mean withdrawal of government support, but rather aligns with the broader reform trajectory already underway.
