Nairobi — The government has locked out private and government-owned millers from being part of the importation deal that will see the country import sugar amid shortages.

Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi revealed yesterday that only private individuals will be allowed to import 100,200 metric tonnes of the sweetener during a four-month importation window.

Importation is meant to stabilize the country's sugar industry, which has seen prices hit historic highs as local millers fail to meet local needs.

Kenya has a capacity to produce 600,000 tonnes of sugar every year, with a deficit of 200,000 tonnes, which are usually sourced outside.

The Government's target to import the commodity from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has proved futile amid scarcity, with other countries with surplus refusing to sell there own.

President William Ruto revealed on Wednesday last week that he was aware of the challenges in the sugar sector, blaming brokers for the mess in the sector.

"There is concern around sugar and we have heard issues around the whole sugar sub sector, there has been a lot of confusion and chaos since the sector has been riddled and poaching of sugarcane from one corner to the other, and others refusing to work in accordance to the law," he said at State House.