Morning: Sugar board elections today, Tata Chemicals exit, Expressway incident clarified, AI in education policy

Kenya's Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has reaffirmed the government's ban on sugar imports and directed that no new licences be issued for sugar importation, saying Kenya has now produced sufficient sugar to meet domestic demand without disrupting the local market. During a high-level consultative meeting at Kilimo House attended by sugar farmers, industry stakeholders and officials from the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB), Kagwe also set the date for the long-awaited elections for five regional grower directors to the Kenya Sugar Board, scheduled for Saturday September 5 2026, marking a major milestone towards fully operationalising the Board under the Sugar Act, 2024. Harun Khator, Chairperson of the Kenya Sugar Board Grower Directors Election Committee and Secretary Administration in the State Department for Livestock Development, officially announced the election date after consultations with stakeholders. "The powers have been vested in my office to declare these elections. I therefore officially announce that the elections for the five grower directors representing the five sugar-growing regions will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026." The CS also revealed he had engaged National Treasury CS John Mbadi to facilitate payment of remaining balances and directed that concerns over delayed payments by some millers be addressed urgently after farmers complained that some factories continue accumulating fresh arrears despite improvements in the industry. According to Kagwe, sugar imports have declined significantly from about 210,000 metric tonnes last year to about 60,000 metric tonnes this year, attributed in part to the KSh 40-per-kilogram excise duty introduced under the Finance Act, 2026, which has discouraged imports while safeguarding local producers. The elections received overwhelming support from farmer organisations, which insisted that the five grower directors must be elected rather than nominated. With the elections set, the sugar sector is expected to reach one of the final milestones in implementing the Sugar Act, 2024, with the elected five grower directors completing the membership of the KSB and enabling it to fully execute its mandate as the country's regulator while supporting ongoing reforms aimed at making Kenya's sugar industry more competitive and profitable for farmers.

President William Ruto has ordered Tata Chemicals Magadi to leave Kenya, accusing the multinational of exploiting Kajiado County's resources for more than a century without delivering enough benefits to residents. Speaking in Kajiado on Thursday September 3, Ruto said the government had identified a new investor to take over operations around Lake Magadi under stricter conditions designed to ensure local value addition, employment, and economic benefits. Ruto's directive therefore puts Tata Chemicals Magadi's century-long presence in Kenya under serious scrutiny while signalling a government push to ensure Kenya's natural resources generate greater benefits for the communities where they are found. The president accused the company of extracting resources from Kenya and shipping them to India while failing to establish sufficient industries or create meaningful opportunities for residents. Ruto said Tata Chemicals Magadi had operated in Kajiado for more than 100 years but had not done enough to benefit the local community. He accused the company of taking Kenya's resources abroad without creating adequate economic opportunities. The president said he had already directed the company to vacate the country, signalling a potentially major change in the ownership and exploitation of resources around Lake Magadi. If the government's conditions are implemented, the county could see greater investment in manufacturing, job creation and local procurement rather than continued emphasis on extraction and export. According to Ruto, the investor must establish a glass processing plant and a chemical processing company in the county. The move is intended to ensure more economic activity remains within Kenya while creating employment opportunities and supporting local businesses. The latest development comes about a month after Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho ordered Tata Chemicals Magadi to suspend mining operations on July 29 following prolonged discussions between the State Department for Mining and the company over compliance with Kenya's mining laws. The government cited several unresolved issues, including royalty reconciliation and payment obligations, export reporting, and the company's mineral beneficiation strategy. Officials also raised concerns over the implementation of community development agreements and the company's plans for employing and transferring skills to Kenyans. The government also accused the company of failing to adequately procure goods and services locally and raised concerns about environmental compliance. Tata Chemicals Magadi, valued at about Ksh10 billion, is one of Africa's major producers of soda ash and salt and is owned by Tata Chemicals Limited, part of India's Tata Group. The proposed transition could significantly change how resources from Lake Magadi contribute to Kajiado's economy.

A viral video circulating on social media on Thursday September 3 appeared to show unidentified men stopping and confronting motorists on the Nairobi Expressway, sparking public alarm and claims of a daytime highway attack. However, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri have clarified that the incident was not a robbery. DCI investigations identified the alleged victim as Hon. Ronald Karauri, Member of Parliament for Kasarani, who explained he was the passenger in the white vehicle seen in the video and had been forced to stop on the Expressway because the door could not close properly. The people seen approaching his vehicle were not goons but persons who came to help fix the door, as he recounted: "I want to clarify that I was the passenger in the white car shown in the video. I was coming from a meeting when the door could not close properly, leaving me in some distress, so I had to stop on the Expressway. The people seen in the video were not goons; they were with me and came to help fix the door. We managed to close it and continued with our journey." According to the DCI, preliminary findings from the accounts given to investigators indicate that the incident was not a robbery. The DCI has urged the public to avoid circulating unverified claims and to share credible information that may assist investigators. The incident comes amid public concern over rising cases of robbery and goons, with recent footage sparking allegations that various officials were attacked, claims dismissed by the individuals involved.

Special Envoy on Technology Philip Thigo and Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Migos Ogamba held discussions in Nairobi to prepare Kenya's education system for the age of AI. Officials believe embracing AI in education offers opportunities to enhance access, reduce administrative inefficiencies, support teachers and pinpoint where learners need extra help. AI is also anticipated to promote inclusivity and equity by bridging geographical divides, expanding access to resources, supporting local-language learning and providing assistive technologies for learners with disabilities. The Kenya National AI Strategy (2025-2030) treats education as a core sector for national growth. However, she called for continued development and implementation of policies and regulatory frameworks to guide the responsible use of AI in education. Prof. Ngila said Kenya is relatively advanced in digital technology in Africa and is well positioned to adopt and embrace AI in education. Dr. James Munyao, a lecturer at the Technical University of Kenya, has called for robust data protection measures as Kenya embraces digital technology and artificial intelligence in STEM education. He called for strengthening of legislation and institutional policies to ensure that personal and institutional information is adequately protected. Professor Ruth Wanjau from Kenyatta University called for greater equity and inclusion in the adoption of artificial intelligence and digital technology in education, urging educators to ensure that no learner is left behind.