The Cabinet Secretary for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Adan Mohammed has launched the second phase of Rai Paper mills in Webuye. He was accompanied by other leaders including Water and Irrigation CS Eugene Wamalwa, Agriculture CS Willy Bett, Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka among others.
CS Adan Mohammed said the launch marks a very important day for industries in Kenya and the people of Webuye. He said that production at Rai Paper has gone a notch higher, “In the lasts six months the business has come to the stage where it’s producing fifty percent of what PanPaper used to produce at full capacity back in its heydey. We now have 1000 people employed by just two lines being functional,” he said, adding that other lines are coming up.
He expressed his satisfaction with leaders who supported the project, “We are very excited with the leaders of Bungoma and Webuye for standing tirelessly with the investor.” CS Adan highlighted that as a country, investments are encouraged, “Investments bring capital and create jobs for people.” However, he noted that the work is only half completed, and more will be accomplished.
He said that President Uhuru Kenyatta has stuck to his earlier commitment he made in December to Bungoma residents, given that Rai Paper is the lifeline of Webuye.
Water CS Eugene Wamalwa expressed his gratitude to the government for ensuring the second line which was set to be reopened has been launched, adding that they’re happy the number of workers has increased. “We opened with just 500 workers and now we have 1000. The investor told us in another two years, all remaining two lines will be opened and over 2000 people will benefit,” he said.
On his part, Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka said the opening of phase two is a great milestone since the first phase was relaunched by President Uhuru Kenyatta. He said that residents are already benefitting, “Webuye is slowly coming back to life,” he said. He said people who are always criticizing the management of the County to be positive in their remarks, “I want to tell the prophets of doom that let them be more positive about our County, instead of just criticizing everything the government does,” he said, adding that only the wearer of the shoe knows where it pinches the most.
On behalf of Bungoma County residents, Governor Lusaka thanked the Jubilee government, strategic investors and workers, who he said have worked so hard to ensure the paper mills is back on its feet.