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.