How Lugari maize plant freed Kakamega farmers from cartels, exploitation

In Kakamega County, maize farming is the backbone of the county’s economy, the heartbeat that feeds thousands of households and sustains livelihoods.

Yet for years, the very farmers who worked tirelessly from sunrise to sunset were the least rewarded for their sweat.

While farmers did all the donkey work, tilling, planting, weeding, and harvesting, the profits from their labour often ended up in the hands of cartels and middlemen.

These traders exploited desperate farmers by buying maize at throwaway prices, only to resell the same produce to millers and wholesalers at huge markups.

However, with the establishment of the Lugari Maize Milling Plant, a partnership between the County government of Kakamega and an investor, maize farmers can now breathe a sigh of relief after the milling plant has edged out the cartels and brokers who have been making millions from farmers' sweat.

“I used to sell a 90-kilogram bag of maize for as little as Sh1,800, only to hear the same bag being sold in town for over Sh3,000,” recalls Beatrice Wekesa, a maize farmer from Chekalini Ward.

She told The Standard Crew during a visit to the factory that they worked hard, but someone else always seemed to benefit more.

"We have long been exploited by middlemen, but we thank our governor, Fernandes Barasa, for ensuring we have this factory, Lugari being the county's largest maize farming and production area. The investor is buying maize a double the price, and we can now smile," said Wekesa.

Julius Atolo, who owns 20 hectares of maize, says the factory has restored fairness and dignity to farming.

"The factory has really helped us because before, conmen used to come and steal from us what is rightfully ours," said Atolo.

He added, “We used to weigh in gorogoros (small tins), and they cheated us. But today, the factory uses proper scales, and we are sure of getting the correct money.”

He explains that before the factory was established, farmers had no choice but to sell to brokers who paid as little as Sh1,200 per bag, but now the factory pays them Sh3,000 per bag.

Atolo recalls how, in the past, farmers would hide their maize at home until it spoiled, fearing they would be cheated.

"But now, when the maize is ready, we just take it to the factory. It reduces transport costs and gives us peace of mind because payment is immediate and on time,” he says.

His only request to the county government is to ensure it brings subsidised fertiliser and seeds closer to the farmers

“The factory is working well; all we need is support with fertiliser, which should be brought closer to the farmers so that we can produce more,” he adds.

Lilian Kivungui, another farmer in Chekalini, agrees that the new system has brought hope and fairness.

She owns four hectares of maize and harvested about 30 bags this season, all of which she plans to sell to the factory.

"Maize is our staple food, and now we are selling it at better prices. Before, we used to wait for three months to get paid by brokers, but now we are paid immediately," she says.

Kivungui says the new setup has transformed their community.

“We are educated now, and we know our value. We cannot be fooled again by black-market brokers. Even at the factory, we don’t waste time; everything is organised,” she says.

She adds that the steady income from maize sales has helped families pay school fees on time and reduced the long, tiring trips they used to make in search of markets.

“Our children can now learn comfortably because we have money when we need it,” she says.

Simon Liseche, a businessman in Lugari town, says the once sleepy town is now vibrant with numerous activities.

"The factory has lightened up most of the trading centres which had collapsed, and now the area is active due to circulation of money and the economy is improving, and we want to urge our governor to ensure the same is replicated in other areas as he promised under his six pillars," said Liseche.

Already, some brokers have abandoned the trade, while others have shifted to transporting maize to the plant or selling animal feed and flour produced there.

Reuben Wanyonyi, chairperson of the Chekalini Farmers’ Cooperative Society, says the plant has revived farmer unity and strengthened local economies.

He oversees over 1,200 farmers organised under seven community-based organisations (CBOs) that pool their maize for sale to the factory.

“Economically, Chekalini and Lugari in large is rising again. The brokers have been pushed away, and the investor has brought the market close to the people,” Wanyonyi says.

Wanyonyi says through the cooperative, farmers now earn dividends that they use to buy fertiliser and reinvest in their farms.

“We are grateful because the cooperative has brought us together. We can sell our maize without fear and plan,” he adds.

The community is even preparing to allocate more land for maize production to meet the factory’s growing demand.

“We are slowly shifting from sugarcane to maize as a community. It was challenging at first, but things are getting better because the factory is working," says Wanyonyi.

The factory has employed more locals, and it is operating on a 24-hour economy after the county donated a transformer for continuous power supply.

Fuka Feeds Limited CEO and investor Wallingo Chirui said the plant has a daily processing capacity of 30 tonnes, which is equivalent to 600 bags.

“Lugari alone cannot meet that capacity since currently, most farmers are struggling to get 30 bags of maize on an acre, unlike in the past when the production was much higher. We are going to partner with 24,000 farmers to boost maize production. We need to revamp that by having strategies like subsidised fertiliser to improve yields and farmers operating under cooperatives,” said Wallingo.

According to Governor Fernandes Barasa, the Lugari Maize Milling Plant is part of a larger vision to empower farmers and strengthen local food systems.

“For years, our farmers were exploited because they lacked access to processing facilities. This plant ensures that value addition happens right here in Kakamega. The maize grown here now feeds our people and benefits our economy," said Barasa.

He added, "With a daily capacity of processing 30 tonnes of maize, the plant is a key step towards the realisation of our agenda for wealth creation, agricultural transformation, and rural employment. At full operation, the plant will employ over 1000 people. It will have three divisions: the maize milling plant, animal feeds processing, and edible oils production."

Governor Barasa says similar initiatives are being planned for sub-counties such as Malava and Navakholo to make Kakamega a hub of agro-industrial development.

Barasa said as part of the long-term expansion plan, the County Government allocated land for the establishment of a multi-million-shilling factory in Phase II of the project.

The factory processes maize into flour, animal feed, and edible oil. It is expected to create over 3,000 direct and indirect jobs and boost food security across the region.

The facility is also set for expansion to include the production of animal feeds and edible oil, broadening its impact on food security and agribusiness.