DNK International By Our Reporter,Bungoma.
Tension flared on Monday after former and current employees of Nzoia Sugar Company staged demonstrations at the factory’s main gate in Kongoli sub-location, Bukembe Location, Bungoma County.
According to police reports, the protest began peacefully at around 10:30 a.m., with union officials addressing demonstrators outside the factory.
The group later marched towards Bukembe Centre along the Nzoia–Bukembe murram road.
However, upon reaching Bukembe Junction, the situation escalated when sections of the demonstrators turned rowdy and blocked the busy Webuye–Malaba Highway by burning tyres.
Police officers who had been closely monitoring the procession intervened and managed to contain the unrest, restoring normalcy.
Investigations established that the demonstrations were mobilized by union officials and further fueled by an inciteful Facebook post allegedly made by one Zacharia Barasa,a Bungoma politician wgo has declared his interest for Bungoma Governor seat in 2027,calling on workers to gather at the factory to demand payment of salary arrears promised by the government by December 2025.
During the chaos, unknown individuals believed to be among disgruntled farmers allegedly set fire to six different sugarcane fields simultaneously, destroying large sections of plantations.
The total acreage affected was yet to be established by the time of reporting.
Police confirmed that the situation was brought under control and no injuries were reported.
[DNK-International@February 3,2026]
