Western Kenya leaders urged to work together in reviving Webuye Paper Mill

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-06-02 18:05:00 Read 511 Times

Mr. Adan Gedow the new District Commissioner of Bungoma East.  Western leaders have been urged to work in harmony to ensure the Webuye Paper mills  is back to normal activities after the government released Sh 1billion for its revival. Mr. Adan Gedow the new District Commissioner of Bungoma East, revealed that after the task force and parliamentary implementation committee towards the restarting of the factory had completed its work. “The Government has already done its part; it has released Sh1 Billion towards the restarting of the PanPaper Company. The money is there and therefore the remaining task is upon us the leaders to work together to see that the factory starts working as soon as possible,” said Mr. Gedow. Speaking at the function, one of the former workers of the Panpaper Factory, Mr.Joseck Wafula complained on behalf of his fellow workers who since the company’s closure, have been left with no income generating program leading to their suffering in hunger. He also added that the lack of employment in the region was the major cause of insecurity in Webuye town as people who don’t have any means to earn a living are forced to find easier ways like stealing. “I am speaking on behalf of my fellow former Pan Paper workers, who are back in their homes with no means of earning a living, we are suffering and we urge the government to come to our rescue,” said Mr. Wafula. “We have heard there are people working in the factory, and yet us the valid workers of the factory are in our homes with no jobs, we want the government to tell us who they are and why it’s not taking us back,” Mr. Wafula. Speaking in the function, the chairman of Nzoia Out growers Company (NOCO), Mr.Joash Wamang’oli, challenged the DC to work towards re-opening of the Panpaper Factory since it was a government parastatal and had the government as a major stakeholder. “I urge the DC to consult with the government and tell us openly if the Company is open or when it will be re-opened,” Mr. Wamang’oli. He also noted that during the leadership of the former Company’s, Director, Mr. Alexanda Katimbu, the factory produced papers, unlike now during the new leadership of Eng.John Munguti. “At some point during the leadership of Mr. Katimbu we  thought the factory had been opened since it used to produce papers as opposed to now as it seemingly is dead and its not producing any,” Mr. Wamang’oli. The leaders spoke during the marking of the 48th Madaraka day celebrations where they cited that the shortage of food due to the increase in food prices that was complained about by most speakers among them the Webuye Municipal Deputy Mayor, Mr. Timothy Karandin. He complained of the rise in food prices, stating that during Hon. Ruto’s reign as the Minister for Agriculture there were no cases of hunger in the country urging the current minister to copy the same. “Lack of food is an alarming issue in the country, residents of this area are suffering a lot over the issue and the government should help the people by reducing the prices of food,” said Mr. Karandin. The Webuye Municipal Mayor, Mr.John Ngome echoed the words of his junior in blaming the Webuye Cereals Board for not supplying the farmers in the region with seeds and fertilizer as expected. This he said made most farmers to either plant their maize which is the staple grain in the region, late or to plant without fertilizer that will lead to low production.   “Any time our farmers go to the board seeking for planting materials they are denied saying that there are no seeds the same case to fertilizer and yet when you go to the Indian shops in town you find the seeds and fertilizer there being sold. Therefore it has come to my office’s notice as to where the materials meant for farmers go to?” said Mr. Ngome. Responding to the hunger complains the District Commissioner, Mr. Gedow was quick to exonerate the Government from the blame of food crisis, pointing out that the same people complaining of the rise in food prices are the ones who sell their maize produce at a cheap price during harvesting season and never save any grains fro future use. “You are the ones complaining of the increase in food prices and yet you never store any of your harvest for future use, its high time we stopped blaming the government for our own mistakes and be ready fro the consequences when such shortages arise,” said Mr. Gedow.