Pan Paper to re-open next week

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-10-13 19:24:00 Read 647 Times

Workers walking into Pan Paper mills webuye, below the Pan Paper revival team leader Dr. Muliaro Wafula [Photo/Rosemary Wachiye]   Former Pan Paper Mills workers who lost their jobs after the collapse of the paper factory are now all smiles on learning that the factory is set to re-open from Monday next week.   The former workers are full of hope and optimism of retaining their former jobs after languishing in joblessness for years.   According to the Pan Paper revival team leader Dr. Muliaro Wafula Pan paper is set to re-open and start production on October 17, 2011 after one and half months of revival plans by his team.   Dr. Muliaro said that the management and technical team has been working to ensure that all the procurement processes are cleared and production of paper set to begin.   “We have received all the materials we need for paper production and through the government support we have purchased enough to see us through the production,” said Dr. Muliaro.   While addressing the former workers of the factory, Dr. Muliaro, assured them to resume work on Monday as the first machine will be opened on that day revealing that all the machines would be opened by November 1, 2011.   He also added that they have acquired enough wood from the factory’s forest and for now they have stored about 20,000 m3 of wood in the factory and have a contract of receiving another 300,000 m3 as they continue operations.   “The wood we have is more than sufficient to ensure the factory runs for a whole year, as the factory crushes only 750 m3 a day, Pan Paper has been on contract with Timboroa forest, Kiptagat and Mt.Elgon where it provides seedlings for them and they sell back the mature trees at subsidized price,” said Dr. Muliaro.   The transportation of the wood to the factory he said will start immediately as they have already cleared with the transporters, assuring the workers that soon there will be continuous flow of wood to the factory ensuring that as the factory re-opens it will run without interference.   “Everything is set all we need from you workers is maximum cooperation, respect and discipline, with that the factory will run well without any problems, we also call upon any one with good ideas that will help us improve to feel free to do so,” said Dr. Muliaro.   However he stated that Pan Paper Mills is still under receivership, and the government through the Ministry of Industrialization has been holding talks with the short term and the long term lenders and agreed that the factory begins working through which they will be able to pay back the debt owed to them by the former owners of the factory.   One of the former workers of Pan Paper Mr. Joseck Wafula on behalf of the other workers expressed his gratitude to the efforts put towards the revival of the Paper factory under the new management and the government’s concern and funding towards its revival.   “We are more than glad towards this good news, it is the best news we have heard for a long time now and we hope that this time round it is not just going to be the normal singsongs that we have been hearing from politicians that it will be opened but even before we resume duties, it closes down,” said Mr. Wafula.   “As workers we have suffered enough since its closure and we want to believe that this is now the ultimate answer to our prayers and the end of our pain, stress following the lack of income,” said Mr. Wafula.

New Ford Kenya leaders criticize use of negative politics to woo voters

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-11-20 16:07:00 Read 329 Times

The New Ford Kenya leaders, Malava MP Soita Shitanda and the Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa at the Matulo RC primary in Webuye where they led a campaign rally for their member ahead of the forth coming civic by-election. [PhotoI Rosemary wachiye] The Webuye West residents have been called upon to seize from dirty politics of distributing leaflets with information against candidates vying for the vacant seat of the ward’s councilor and instead to focus on development. Saturday, the New Ford Kenya Party organized the second major Campaign rally in Matulo R.C primary school a week prior to the by-election for the Webuye West Ward on 28th November. Speaking at a political campaign rally in Matulo R.C primary school prior to the by-election for the Webuye West Ward on 28h November, the aspiring presidential candidate who is also the mp for Saboti Eugine Wamalwa, called upon the residents to decease from painting others negatively as a way of making them lose votes from the people.  “Those who are participating in the leaflet distribution and dirty politics as a way of spoiling for others are only showing their fear to lose, they should come out and be ready for a challenge and face it instead of insulting others,” said Mr.Wamalwa. Minister for housing Mr. Soita Shitanda who is also the New Ford Kenya party chairman also criticized the behavior by some of the Matulo ward residents who have been reported to be moving around making phone calls across the ward threatening people against voting for some candidates. Mr. Shitanda stated that bad politics of threatening opponents and their supporters is a thing of the past that should not be condoned; he wanted the people participating in such acts to stop and instead use the energy to prepare for the forthcoming by-elections. “I have heard that there are those who are calling and threatening people on phones and I want them to realize that such a behavior in politics is a thing of the past that they should seize before the law catches up with them,” said Mr. Shitanda.  Former Industrialization Minister Mukhisa Kituyi also called upon the Matulo residents to come out in large numbers during the voting day to be able to vote for their favorite candidate who will represent them. Speaking at the same function at Matulo Ward, former MP for Budalangi Raphael Wanjala called upon the luhya people to vote as a block for their presidential candidate comes next year so that they strengthen his chances of winning the seat. “As the people from Western province we should all support our presidential candidate the same way people from other places support their own and by doing so he will definitely emerge victorious,” said Mr.Wanjala. Politics of development took centre stage at New Ford Kenya rally in Matulo Ward as various candidates for 2012 elections came out expressing their aspiration and their plans if voted in to the different positions.

Two suspects arrested with AK47 riffle in Webuye to appear in court on Monday

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-09-25 10:27:00 Read 736 Times

Suspects Peter Gitahi (left) Anthony John (right) in court after they were arrested with an Ak47 riffle and 22 rounds of ammunition illegally in Webuye. They appear befor a Webuye court on Monday for a second hearing. [Photo/Rosemary Wachiye/WestFm] Two men found in possession of AK47 riffle illegally and 22 rounds of ammunition will appear before a court of law on Monday, police have said. The two, identified as Peter Gitahi Nginjari and Anthony John Mataro were caught in possession of the lethal weapons after a chase between them and police officers in Webuye town, on September 21. The patrol police suspected the car the two were travelling in registration number KAQ 244 and decided to follow it. However, after noticing they were being pursued, the occupants of the car who were four refused to stop but instead fled in high speed from Kwa Dina junction in Webuye and escaped through a bar along Nyanga Street. Two of them managed to escape but the police are still following crucial leads to nail them while the two who were arrested and being held at the Webuye Police Station, help in investigation. They will be taken to the Webuye law courts for the second hearing of their case. They were charged of being in possession of fire arm and 22 rounds of ammunition of 7.62 mm caliber without a certificate which they both denied.   The mention against them was done at the Webuye law courts on Sept 22, at 2.30.pm where the Principal Magistrate Mr. Enock Cherono ruled that they were to be released on a bond of 500,000 but after a little persuasion from the accused he reduced the bond to 300,000 for each of them. Mr. Cherono however stated that they will not be granted the bond until after the second hearing of their case on Monday. This comes just a month after the brutal murder of the Webuye Deputy Mayor Mr. Timothy Karandini with a similar riffle brand AK 47. The authorities are carrying out investigations to ascertain if the bullet recovered at the scene of the shooting was fired from the riffle to also ascertain if they are linked to the murder of the slain politician. Police also are following leads whether the suspects are involved in a series of crimes reported in the town and the region at large.

Bungoma County leaders support Pan Paper re-opening, says Wetangula

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-11-06 17:46:00 Read 538 Times

Sirisia Mp Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula and Webuye MP Alfred Sambu address workers at the recently re-opened Webuye Pan Paper factory. [Photo|Rosemary Wachiye|West Fm] The revival of the Pan Paper Mills in Webuye has catapulted political activity in Bungoma County with leaders jostling to be identified with the revival. A host of legislators have been seen making visits to the factory since its re-opening with the area MP Alfred Sambu being the first one to tour the paper factory and Sirisia MP Moses Wetangula being the latest after he paid a courtesy call to the factory on Saturday. While addressing the workers, Wetangula stated that the leaders from Bungoma County will cooperate with the management and give it support both financially and politically to ensure that the mill is sustained. “All the leaders from Bungoma County are supportive of this revival and on their behalf I would like to promise our maximum support towards the sustainability of the mill even if it means soliciting for more funds towards its maintenance we will do so,” said Wetangula. The Foreign Affairs Minister pledged that political leaders from the region will not interfere with the revival process of the factory but will be on the look out to ensure it runs successfully. “As Bungoma leaders we will not politicize the revival of the factory but we will not sit back and watch it fall apart as we did the last time. We are going to be on the look out to see it working continuously,” pledged Wetangula. He also stated that the government was on the forefront in the revival process and it had so far released Sh1.6 Billion to fund its initial re-opening. “The government has shown interest in Pan paper since it was the backbone of Webuye town and a source of employment for most of Webuye residents who during its closure suffered a lot, that is why the government is doing all it can to ensure the mill does not close down again,” he said. He also urged the leadership of the factory to work together and to share information with the government whenever need be so as to prevent the closure of the factory. He called upon management to recall back all the former workers of the factory without being biased except for the senior management posts that may need expertise skills. “The management should ensure all the previous workers of Pan Paper are recalled back unless if some got jobs elsewhere or died otherwise for those still around and in need of a job should be given first priority in the employment exercise,” Wetangula urged. He added that the revival of Pan Paper is good news to Bungoma County as a whole since it will bring back the peace and security in the region that had been lost since its closure.

Chebini parents lock school head in office, accuse teachers for poor performance

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2012-01-05 16:58:00 Read 279 Times

As parents across the country continue to react sharply to poor performance by schools, Chebini Primary school parents in Webuye Thursday morning matched to the school and locked the head teacher in his office over poor performance. The parents of the poorly structured school in in Miendo area, Bungoma East District, accused the school head Mr. Vincent Kituyi and his teachers of being the main cause to the poor performance by last year’s KCPE candidates. The school managed a mean score of 182 marks with the first pupil scoring 312 out of the possible 500 causing outcry from the parents who also want Kituyi to be transferred. They blamed him for having poor managerial skills and lack of proper working mechanisms that has failed the school. At the same time, they blamed the teachers for being lazy and non-committed to their work and called for their immediate transfer. There was tension and confusion at the school as it started its first day of the year until officials of the Kenya National Union for Teachers (KNUT) Bungoma East branch came in time to salvage the situation that was almost going out of hand. The officials led by the Secretary General Mr.  Aggrey Namisi (pictured below) calmed down the situation through dialogue with both sides. They gave a chance to the parents to express their views and after which the teachers responded and they finally arrived at an amicable solution. “As KNUT we would like the parents to understand that as much as the role of teachers is to teach and the parents also have a role to play in ensuring better performance of their children,” said Mr. Namisi. Namisi expressed his concern over some of the parents’ of sitting back throughout the academic year to wait for the results to be announced for them to come forth and complain blaming the teachers who have played their role. “Most parents never cooperate in issues for development in the schools when called upon, they never attend harambees, or annual meetings which have important agenda towards improving performance yet they are the first ones to complain whenever an issue arises,” he charged.. However, he challenged the teachers together with the parents to discuss and find out where the problem could be and come up with a way forward to better the academic performance and discipline in the school so that come the end of the year when the results come out, there would be no blames.

Receivership hurting Webuye Paper Mills operations, says Muliaro

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2012-01-17 19:42:00 Read 448 Times

Barely four months after its revival, Webuye Paper Mills is making huge losses as it faces a daunting challenge of getting ready market for its paper.  The paper sales are slow and this has been blamed on its receivership by the government.  According to Dr. Wafula Muliaro who is spearheading its revival, the factory has produced enough paper for sale but it cannot sale off the paper easily since it does not have its own account for the income to go through and all its finances goes back to the government.  He has stated that being under receivership keeps the factory under revival and testing mode instead of being in full operational mode thus making it hard to make profits from the sales made.  Dr. Muliaro (pictured) has dismissed the claim that paper made from pulp no longer has market as perceived by a section of critics, stating that only reading and writing paper has been digitalized but industrial paper has not and it is still being made from pulp.  “Pan Paper will never lack market for its paper, since 90 per cent of its produced paper is for industrial use and production of cartons and heavy density paper for packaging purposes,” said Muliaro.  He revealed to West fm that there is 3,500 metric tonnes of paper in the factory’s warehouse waiting to be sold while there is a pending order of 9,000 Metric tones from factories in Kenya that is yet to be cleared.  “Most of Pan Paper factory’s previous major customers are back as they find importation of paper to be very costly and time consuming and will rather get easily and fast from here,” he said.  This January the Pan Paper factory has officially received ETR and pin certificate from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the management hopes that that will be a get through to it being able to carry out paper business easily with no hindrance.  According to him, once Pan Paper has been turned into official operation then they will be able to sell out paper and the money generated will be ploughed back to the inputs of the factory, they will also be able to run, plan and execute the processes in the factory effectively.  At the moment the workers’ pay is being settled by the government through the Ministerial revival grant.  He at the same time acknowledged the recent case of power being cut on 16th January 2012 following the delay to clear electricity bill for the month of December 2011 but affirmed that the issue was under control and that soon it will be settled and the factory would be back into operation as before.  The once busy factory, was deserted and in total silence following the power discharge as workers were forced to go back home as they could do nothing.  “We believe the payment will be done in the course of the week and  the factory will start operation soon, let it not be any cause for alarm to any of the stakeholders because it’s a small hitch that is under control,” said Dr. Muliaro.

Is the idea of new national schools a mirage in Bungoma County?

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2012-01-16 19:15:00 Read 475 Times

As most schools upgrade to National schools in the country, Lugulu Girls High School in Bungoma County has reported a disappointment in the criteria used in selecting students for the form one intake by the board concerned early this year. According to the Dean of studies in the school Mr. George Ochago, before its upgrading the government had promised to select students to join the new national schools according to the schools of origin putting into consideration that 20 per cent was to come from the School’s district area, 40pc from the county the school resides and the remaining 4pc from other parts of the country. However, after the board selection, only one student has been selected from Bungoma East District, 30 students from the whole of Western province, 50 students from Rift Valley Province, 30 students from Central Province, 30 students from Eastern Province and 30 from Nyanza Province. Earlier, at PCEA Kimuka Girls Secondary School in Kajiado North, the Permanent secretary in the ministry of education Prof James ole Kiyapi defended the Secondary School Form one selection criteria. He said that the 48 National Schools allocation was fair and based on strength of student’s performance in all the counties. He cited that private schools had 17 percent of total candidates who sat for the last year’s KCPE compared to 83 percent to that of public schools. The ratio of private to public schools allocation to national schools was 1:2 meaning 35 percent of national school places were allocated to private schools and 65 percent went to public schools. “I am happy that the minister launched the form 1 selection which is unique as it was done in the spirit of the new constitution to promote equity, access and geographical diversity”, the PS had said. Dean of studies in the school Mr. George Ochago However,Mr. Ochago has expressed his concern over the issue stating that when the school was a provincial school, most of its students used to come from Bungoma County and the change that in its intake system is a sign that Bungoma County has lost one of its treasured schools. “If the government in its first intake has not lived up to the promise it made earlier, there is no guarantee that it will ever follow that criteria which is as good as saying that Bungoma County has lost its school,” said Mr. Ochago. A school that used to take in students from Western Province will now have most of its occupants from other parts of the country and hence lose its western touch. Just like the other upgraded schools in the country Lugulu Girls High School in Bungoma County is preparing itself to receive its first form one students on 6th February 2012 since being officially pronounced a national school last year. It has received Sh.12.5 Million out of the expected 25 Million to carry out renovations in the school and construction and upgrading of the school facilities to meet the national school standards. Some of the new building that have been under construction in Lugulu. “So far we have renovated 10 dormitories, 24 classrooms,2 laboratories and 2 Home Science rooms and we aim to change the school’s outlook to fit a national school level,” said Mrs. Helen Anyanga,Lugulu Girls Deputy Head teacher. Mrs. Anyanga has disclosed to West FM that the biggest challenge faced in its upgrading is changing the school’s diet which will lead to a rise in the school fees which the continuing students that joined the school before its upgrading may not easily adapt to. The teachers looked psyched up for the big challenge ahead of beating the national academic standards, stating that they have been close to a national school all along and it will not be hard. With its first selected student attaining 433 marks, and the last one with 293, 122 among the selected 217 from Private sponsored schools and the remaining 95 from Public sponsored schools in the country.