After undergoing a hiatus due to financial constraints, Mumias Sugar Company is expected to roar back to life next week.

A test run of the repaired plant began yesterday and will be done until Monday when full cane crushing will begin.

Communication Officer Moses Owino said production of sugar would begin on Tuesday next week.

Revival of the plant is expected to boost business in Mumias Town as well as in the neighbouring ones such as Kakamega, Busia, Butere, Khwisero and Mbale.

The once bustling Shibale trading centre that is near the factory had become a place shadow of itself, because of the closure of the factory.

The small town is usually patronised by Mumias Sugar Company workers, cane cutters and hawkers.

The miller's products are expected to return to supermarket shelves after missing conspicuously for the last two months.

Traders and sugarcane farmers, who on Wednesday spoke to the Nation, are excited about the imminent resumption of milling.

"It has been a long wait for farmers. The news of the factory reopening is good for all of us. This would breath a new lease of life in the region's economy," said Mr Simon Wesechere, the Deputy Secretary-General of Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers.

He said jobless youth who dependent on the factory for a livelihood had started engaging in criminal activities in Mumias Town and in neighbouring trading centres.

"We hope things would change for the better as the factory begins operations," said Mr Wesechere.

The firm aims to improve its crushing capacity to 6,500 tonnes in a day.