Government committed to the revival of Pan Paper factory says Raila

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-08-10 15:29:00 Read 533 Times

Prime Minister addressing mourners at the home of the late Deputy Mayor, Mr.Timothy Karandini Wekesa who was shot by unknown people at his home in Webuye accompaning him are the Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Transport Minister Najib Balala, Roads minister Frankline Bett, Minister For Regional Development Fred Gumo, the assistant Minister of Metropolitan Mrs.Elizabeth Ongoro and Assisant Minister Office of the prime minister Mr. Alfred Khangati the Webuye legislator Alfred Sambu, and Shinyalu Mp Mr. Justus Kizito. 

The government is set to announce the revival of the Webuye Pan Paper factory next month, Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said..

Raila assured the Webuye residents who are former workers of Pan Paper factory that it will be re-started and the government was to give its feedback on the same by 2nd Sept this year.

"I know the factory was a livelihood source for most of you and I give you my word that as a cabinet we will ensure that your source of revenue is brought back," said Raila.

The Premier is further noted to have said that the government had released Sh1 billion for the revival of Pan Paper in Webuye but a few issues including the change of name, technology and the supply of wood was still holding back operations.

This he had disclosed during the official opening of the Butali Sugar Company early January after the Sabatia legislator Musalia Mudavadi, had implored the PM to disclose to the Western Kenya residents, what happened to the Pan Paper Mills in Webuye shortly after the factory was opened in the run up to the referendum.

2010 July 28, President Kibaki reopened the paper mill after two and a half years of closure.

The plant, however, grounded to a halt after two weeks when three of the mills closed down, sending more than 400 employees who had just been recalled, back home.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga also challenged the security officers in Western Kenya to be more vigilant in carrying out their duties to combat the escalating incidents of crime in the region.

Speaking at the home of the late Deputy Mayor, Mr.Timothy Karandini Wekesa who was shot by unknown people at his home, Raila said, “It’s a pity for such a young leader to die so soon through the hands of unknown criminals, “assuring that it does not matter where the perpetrators originated from but he will ensure justice prevails.

The Prime minister was in the company of his wife Ida Odinga, the Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Transport Minister Najib Balala, Roads minister Frankline Bett, Minister For Regional Development Fred Gumo, the assistant Minister of Metropolitan Mrs.Elizabeth Ongoro and Assisant Minister Office of the prime minister Mr. Alfred Khangati the Webuye legislator Alfred Sambu, and Shinyalu Mp Mr. Justus Kizito.

Pan Paper to re-open next week

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-10-13 19:24:00 Read 374 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.

Govt asked to provide vehicles for Police at Bungoma : :

Govt asked to provide vehicles for Police at Bungoma : :

NOCO and Nzoia reach agreement over cane poaching

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-09-20 19:16:00 Read 239 Times

Trailers with cane at the NZoia Sugar Company weigh bridge machine. [Photo/West Fm File] At last the two warring sister companies Nzoia Sugar Company and Nzoia Out growers Company (NOCO) have reached an agreement and settled the row between them over the recent cases of cane poaching. At a press conference held at Nzoia Sugar Company premises, the Managing Director of Nzoia Sugar Company, Mr. Saul Wasilwa stated that they held a meeting with officials from both companies together with representatives of farmers and reached an agreement that all the cane harvesting and sell will be done in consent of both parties. This follows a growing dispute between NOCO and Nzoia Sugar Company after claims that NOCO was selling cane to other millers other than Nzoia Sugar Company which has contracted the cane farmers. “Nzoia Sugar Company is the only company allowed to get cane from the farmers since it has invested in the development of the cane right from its planting upto harvesting and therefore selling the cane to other millers is poaching and it has to stop,” said Mr. Wasilwa. “We have agreed with NOCO that there will be no selling of cane to other millers without consultation with us,” said Mr. Lawrence Sifuna the chairman, Nzoia Sugar Company. Mr. Sifuna also admitted that Nzoia Sugar Company has not been remitting levy to NOCO Company for some time now, because he claims that the NOCO Company is still under a guarantor and not under the shareholders who are cane farmers.  “As soon as NOCO gets registered under the shareholders then we will pay the levy,” said Mr. Sifuna. About the complains from farmers about the low pay by Nzoia Sugar Company and yet since the maintenance closure the company has been selling cane to other millers at a high rate and yet still pay the farmers the same amount, the director Ms. Rosalinda Simiyu stated that the company had to pay farmers a sustainable fee. “it’s all because we care about the farmers’ well-fare we cannot pay them more right now because of the rise in sugar prices and then when the price goes down we again reduce their pay we have to maintain what we pay them and it’s for their own good,” said Ms. Rosalinda Simiyu. “We are committed to our farmers and that is why even as we have closed for maintenance we still have to ensure that they are sustained by selling their cane to other millers and it also curbs wastage of cane,” said Ms. Rosalinda Simiyu. This however comes amidst reports that the bad blood between NOCO and Nzoia Sugar Company has erupted into a war of words between the latter and giant sugar miller Mumias Sugar Company over cane poaching claims.

Concern as no suspect arrested one month after killing of Webuye Deputy Mayor

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-09-21 17:18:00 Read 332 Times

Webuye residents viewing the body of slain Deputy Mayor Timothy Karandini before he was burried. [Photo/WestFm] A month after the brutal murder of then Webuye Municipal Council Deputy mayor Timothy Karandini, police are yet to arrest any suspect linked to the murder. Leaders from the municipality have shown dissatisfaction at the manner in which the case is being handled even after the Prime Minister Raila Odinga ordered thorough investigations into the murder. The PM promised the government would undertake ‘serious investigations’ to nail the assailants as he addressed mourners in Webuye. The leaders led by councilor Erick Soita now want the government to tell the public the extent of the investigations and if any suspect has been questioned concerning the murder especially after the PM himself represented the government. Soita also wants the Ministry of Internal Security to come clear over the matter and the steps it is undertaking to avert such incidences in the future.  “What strategy has the government put in place to ensure that the suspects are caught and there is no repeat of the same here, and across the country?” posed Soita.  “I hate the laxity on the part of the police officers in dealing with the matter amicably, or is the government waiting for another person to be brutally murdered for it to act, when will the government assure residents of Webuye who are now living in fear that all is well?”  quipped  Mr.  Soita. However speaking on the same issue the Webuye Deputy OCPD Mr. Ancient Kaloki stated that investigations to nail those behind the killing of Mr. Karandini started as soon as he was pronounced dead and is still on. He said the police and the investigation department have been working hard to dig deep in to the matter and find the real cause of his death. Mr. Kaloki stated that from the onset there were two main possibilities that might have led to his untimely death being: business deals gone sour and political angle but following the two possibilities they had to dismiss the political angle since the late seems to have had a friendly relationship with his political allies. “The late on several occasions won the Deputy Mayoral seat un-opposed something to prove that he was liked by many and that his death might not be linked to political rivalry,” said Mr. Kaloki. On the business line he says they found out that the late had had some issues with his business partner in Uganda, Tororo and there was a case still pending in court over the row. He might not point fingers of accusations but leaves it open for further investigations as per now they have not really established if the business partner from the neighboring country can be linked to his death. Mr. Kaloki does not leave to point out that the death of the late politician might have also been caused by a normal robbery which did not go as planned. “The culprits might have come with the intention to steal from him but after shooting at the dog in the homestead they noticed that they had attracted attention and fled,” says Mr. Kaloki. He further explains that when they shot at the car door it was not with the intention to kill him but to open the door of the car and lead him to the house where they would steal from him, but unfortunately the bullet went through to his hip and killed him. “I would like to also say that in as much as we would like to think that they were people sent to kill him but they could also have been normal robbers who didn’t wish to kill but things didn’t go as they had planned and ended up killing him,” noted Mr. Kaloki. He states also that the investigation is still under way and they hope to find out the real cause and get the assailants.

G7 alliance is about change, not to fight Raila.

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-09-26 16:35:00 Read 179 Times

Nominated Mp Musikari Kombo, Saboti Mp Eugene Wamalwa and Eldoret North Mp William Ruto at Matulo secondary School in Bungoma during a funds drive for the school. [Photo/ RoseMAry Wachiye]   The G7 alliance members have stated that the alliance is for bring change and development and not meant to fight the Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The nominated Member of Parliament  Mr. Musikari Kombo stated that the alliance was going to see that the next government will bring an end to hunger and poverty in the country.   He also added that the leadership by the youths is now not tomorrow as people like to state and he challenged Raila to leave the presidential seat for the young aspirants since his time to lead is worn out.   The Member of Parliament for Saboti Constituency who is also a presidential aspirant Mr. Eugene Wamalwa complained of the tour by the Prime Minister to the grave yards of former leaders in western province stating that it was pointless.   “I wonder why he always has to visit graveyards of our people when it’s almost the election period, yet there are so many graves of former leaders in Nyanza and we have not heard that he has visited any of them,” said Mr. Wamalwa.   He sent a clear message for Raila that the next time he tours the region he should visit the industries in the region that have been closed down and needs reviving giving an example of Pan Paper factory and Kitinda Dairy.   The Member of Parliament for Eldoret North Mr. William Ruto, stated that the forthcoming election was going to a competition between the performers and the story tellers who cannot match their words with their actions.   “We need performers and not just story tellers who cannot do what they say, I support Mr.Wamalwa because he is a performer and as you know I am also a performer my record at the ministry of agriculture and higher education speaks for itself,” says Mr. Ruto.   “The next election is going to be about competition about ideas and how to change Kenya and not about personality as it has always been in the past,” says Mr. Ruto.   He said the G7 government will foresee expansion of the economy, eliminating of hunger and unemployment. Election date   Speaking at a fund raising towards construction of a new dormitory in Matulo Girls High School in Webuye, many political leaders disagreed with the suggestion to move forward the next General election date by three months from the normal time in August till December.   Wamalwa dismissed the suggestion to postpone the election date stating that there is a bill in parliament that is working towards retaining the election the way the constitution states.   “We already passed the constitution which states that the election date is the second week of August and so that is the date to follow I don’t agree with those who plan to change that,” says Mr. Wamalwa.   He also argued that December is not the best month to perform an election since that’s the month where most people tend to take a tour to the coast with family to relax; it’s also full of Christmas blues.    He added that very few countries ever risk carrying out an election in the Month of December and if we take to that then Kenya will be among the odd. “December is the worst month to carry out an election its time when most people are relaxing from work throughout the year and Kenyans should also ask themselves why most countries carry out election in August and not towards the end of the year,” says Mr. Wamalwa.   Also speaking at the function the nominated Member of Parliament who is also the former MP for Webuye constituency Mr. Musikari Kombo stated that the suggestion was not in line with what the new constituency says.   He warned Kenyan citizens against allowing the Members of Parliament to change the constitution as early as now stating the example of the Lancaster constitution which he says it didn’t take two years before the Kenyatta changed and destroyed it.   “We don’t want what happened to the Lancaster constitution to repeat itself with our newly earned constitution,” says Mr. Kombo. He adds that by allowing the government to change the constitution based on the budget then it will subordinating the constitution to work in line with the budget and yet the budget cycle is the one supposed to change to fit the constitution.    “Constitution is more key than the budget lets change our budget cycle to fit in the provisions of the constitution and not the other way round,” says Mr. Kombo.   Ending poverty The Member of Parliament for Eldoret North Mr. William , stated that there was need for the government to put in place a long term strategy towards putting a dent to unemployment, eliminating hunger and empowering the people towards eliminating poverty in the country.   He said that 70% of the Kenyan population were youths who need to be empowered with knowledge, expertise in generating jobs so as to eliminate unemployment and hunger.   “Such important issues towards development have been ignored and that is why the country seem to be suffering with many unemployment cases among the youths,” says Mr.Ruto. He added that when he was the Agriculture Minister he ensured that hunger was a thing of the past through increasing the price of sugar cane from Sh. 2.300 per tonne to Sh.3,000 in a period of six months and he believes that the same can be done to see to it that cane farmers are well paid.   “If we managed to increase cane prices in such a short period then what can stop the ministry from doing to same so that the cane farmer is paid up to Sh. 4,000 or Sh.5,000 or even Sh.6,000,”says Mr.Ruto.   He stated that the government cannot reduce hunger by importing maize from out of the country but instead it should put some mechanism to reduce the production cost for maize by reducing the prices for seeds and fertilizer.  “The government should reduce the costs of fertilizer and seeds so that the farmers can produce at a very low price and manage to benefit from their produce in high profits,.” Say Mr.Ruto.

Passengers in Bungoma stranded as police intensify crackdown on faulty vehicles

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-09-11 12:20:00 Read 206 Times

Passengers in Bungoma town scramble for a Matatu van. A police crackdown in the towm led to withdrwal of vehicles on the road by owners to avoid being arrested for failing to comply with traffic rules. [Photo/Rosemary Wachiye/WestFm] Passengers travelling to various destinations from Bungoma town were left stranded on stages over the weekend following a traffic crackdown by traffic police. The crackdown led to many vehicles being withdrawn from the road for failing to meet the required standards as the officers swung into action and arrested those found not to be in compliance. The few Matatu operates who satisfied the officers made a kill as they hiked bus fare as the many passengers scrambled for the few vehicles. Students and even the sick were not spared as they all had to wait for the few vehicles and when they were on stage, it was everybody for their selves as they struggled to get a seat. “We have no means of travelling and yet most of us are parents who are taking our children back to school, it’s very bad for us to be treated like this yet we are not to blame for the bad conditions in some of the vehicles,” said one of the passengers. Speaking with west fm, most public vehicle operators that ply the route described the crack down on vehicles as abrupt and unexpected something that has caught them unawares leading to a missive loss on their part as they now have to evade using that road. “We didn’t expect such a thing to occur in a way its punishing us but more so punishing our passengers who are now stranded,” said one of the touts at the bus station. Some of the passengers were forced to use motor bicycles while others squeezed themselves in the available public service vehicles. Motorcycle operators ferry stranded passengers to teir destinations at a hiked price.  Most matatu touts and motor bicycle operators took advantage of the situation created by the crackdown by hiking the travelling bus fare to almost double the normal price. People with luggage were seen standing at the bus station undecided on what to do with the rise in travelling bus fare and the lack of vehicles to transport them to their destination. The matatu touts however complained of the action taken by the police officers to be of malice because they revealed that most of the vehicles caught during the police inspection had no offences and there were no explanation as to why they were caught. “The police seem to be only after getting cash from us because even brand new vehicles that are without an offence have been caught and we don’t understand why,” stated one of the matatu touts.