CHEMELIL SUGAR COMPANY AND EAST AFRICAN BRWERIES IN PARTNERSHIP TALKS TO SUPPORT GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN AGAINST ILLICIT BREWS

By BOSCO MAGARE, CHEMELIL SUGAR COMPANY

EAST AFRICAN BREWERIES LIMITED (EABL) is engaged in partnership talks with Chemelil Sugar Company to source bagasse as fuel for EABL’s Kisumu-based factory, supporting the Government’s campaign to eradicate consumption of illicit brews in Western Kenya.

The ongoing partnership talks between EABL and Chemelil Sugar are aimed at the largest brewer in the Eastern Africa region starting to source bagasse from sugar companies in Western Kenya to use as raw material in powering their Kisumu City-based production plant.

EABL’s top management team, including Finance Manager Edward Kioko, Procurement Manager Jacob Otsyula, Head of Communications David Kimondo, and Head of Public Policy Zach Munyi, visited Chemelil Sugar Company and initiated partnership talks with Chemelil Sugar Company acting Managing Director Jacqueline Kotonya in her office.

During the partnership talks at Chemelil Sugar Company’s Managing Director’s office, EABL Head of Public Policy Munyi stated that the brewer has initiated talks with Chemelil Sugar Company and several other sugar companies in Western Kenya to support the dual EABL and Government of Kenya (GoK) agenda to eradicate illicit brews in the region.

“As EABL, we want to expand our source of raw material through the use of bagasse as fuel to power our Kisumu City-based Keg beer production factory. Currently, the factory relies on biomass as a source of fuel to operate its boilers and generate power for the plant’s production of Keg beer,” Munyi said.

Chemelil Sugar Company acting Managing Director Kotonya, accompanied by acting Head of Factory Joseph Kiilu, pointed out during the exploratory partnership talks that the Company will be keen to explore ways of partnering with EABL’s desire to source bagasse at a cost as raw material to power the firm’s factory in Kisumu.

Kotonya mentioned that with the increased cane supply by farmers to the factory, the mounting amount of bagasse will soon become a challenge to manage. Thus, EABL’s desire to source bagasse as a raw material for their Keg factory in Kisumu will help manage this by-product and provide an additional revenue stream.

Munyi revealed that the EABL Kisumu-based factory currently relies on biomass fuel derived from rice husks, macadamia nut husks, and briquettes to power and operate the factory.

“However, to guarantee sustainability of production at the EABL Kisumu factory, we are exploring expanding our sourcing of raw material for the factory’s fuel, rather than relying solely on biomass,” says EABL Head of Public Policy.

Munyi also noted that the EABL team is in exploratory partnership talks with Sony Sugar, Muhoroni Sugar Company, Butali Sugar, West Valley Sugar, West Kenya Sugar, and Chemelil Sugar Company as potential factories in Western Kenya from which the brewer can source bagasse to ensure the sustainable operation of their Kisumu Keg beer factory.

The EABL factory in Kisumu City produces only Keg beer, supporting the Government’s campaign to eradicate illicit brews in Western Kenya, which are harmful to consumers and have negatively impacted the socio-economic standards of many residents, particularly vulnerable youth.

Munyi added that the EABL factory in the lakeside city of Kisumu also supports the Government’s program and efforts to provide a market for farmers' produce, as it uses sorghum grown by farmers in Migori, Kisumu, Homabay, and Siaya as raw material for Keg beer production.

“In addition to supporting the economy of these sorghum-growing areas, EABL is providing a ready market for sorghum farmers and creating job opportunities in the areas and ultimately in Western Kenya,” Munyi added.

Separately, on the sidelines of the EABL and Chemelil Sugar Company partnership talks, Munyi further explained that EABL's environmental policy aims to ensure minimal carbon emissions during Keg beer production by the Kisumu factory.

“Once we successfully conclude the partnership talks with Chemelil Sugar Company and other cited sugar factories in Western Kenya, as part of our strategy to support reduced carbon emissions, EABL will explore using electric-powered trucks to transport bagasse from these sugar millers to our Keg beer factory in Kisumu. We will send our partnership proposal to Chemelil Sugar Company next week for consideration,” Munyi revealed.

Munyi added that EABL's use of electric-powered trucks to transport bagasse will be preferable to diesel-powered trucks, which emit carbon emissions during transport. EABL will also consider shorter transport distances to reduce carbon emissions.