Sessional Paper No. 05 of 1970 on The Chemilil Sugar Company Ltd.

Abstract

The Chemelil Sugar project was first established in 1965. It is one of the biggest projects of any description ever attempted in Kenya and it owes its existence to Government initiative. Sugarcane planting and the construction of the factory commenced in 1966 and the completed factory was opened by H.E. the President in 1968. It is the biggest factory in Kenya and the most modern in East Africa. Since 1966, 20,000 acres of sugar cane have been planted in addition to that already in existence. Of this, 9,000 acres have been established on smallholdings. This project answers in every way the most important development requirements in Kenya. These are the creation of income especially for the small farm sector, the creation of employment, the development of rural areas and the saving of foreign exchange. Although still in its early stages of development the Chemelil project answers these criteria to a marked degree. It is a major industrial project in a comparatively undeveloped rural area. The project has generated 4,000 jobs and as it expands so the employment opportunities will increase. In its first year of operation the factory produced 33,000 tons of sugar worth K£1,518,000. This represents a considerable saving in foreign exchange…