President Uhuru Kenyatta has confirmed that the first section of panpaper mills situated in webuye town will be opened next month and is meant to provide employment to five hundred people, most who will be residents of Bungoma County and Webuye.
While addressing thousands of residents who had come to welcome him after inspecting the factory, Kenyatta said with the pace at which renovation was being done, “Am happy with the pace being used, and I want to congratulate the management and staff involved,” he said, “I want to assure residents of Webuye and Bungoma County that next month we will come back here to open the first part of the mill, and will provide job opportunities for our youth and bring back Webuye town’s lost glory.”
President Kenyatta added that by June next year, the paper mill will be able to employ more than six thousand people and urged residents to be patient.
The president noted that Panpaper mills had elicited criticism over its privatization, especially from the opposition. He said Panpaper was shut down when all the CORD principals were in positions of power but they did nothing about it, insisting that therefore, they shouldn’t criticize him.
He urged the opposition to stop diverting attention from the agenda of development and accused them of undermining his government while they themselves failed when they were in power, “Our people at this time need development, they need clean water, good road networks, good education. That’s why as a government we decided to reduce the parents’ burden by paying examination fees to primary and secondary schools,” outlined President Kenyatta, “We have also provided credible equipment to our hospitals and free maternity care but some people can’t see that.”
On his part, Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka thanked the president for touring the county with the development agenda in mind, and assured him of the residents’ support, “We want to thank you for the continued support in terms of development in my county and Western region.”
However, Sirisia MP John Waluke criticized Senator Moses Wetangula for failing to accompany the president to Panpaper mills, adding that leaders should unite when it comes to development irrespective of their party affiliations. He reiterated his support for Jubilee adding that he will defend his seat with the Jubilee party ticket.
Others who attended the occasion were MPs John Serut of Mt Elgon, David Were of Matungu, Emmanuel Wangwe of Nabhakholo, Sirisia MP John Waluke, Dan Wanyama of Webuye West, Alfred Sambu of Webuye East, Bungoma Women Representative Reginalda Wanyonyi among other leaders. President Kenyatta was accompanied by CS for Environment, Water and Natural Resources Judy Wakhungu and Water CS Eugene Wamalwa.