The management and running of the stalled Webuye Pan Paper mills has now been handed over to newly appointed Receivership Manager Mr. Ian Small. 

The outgoing acting Managing Director and revival team leader Dr. Wafula Muliaro, as he presided over the handing over ceremony at a Webuye hotel on Sunday evening, reiterated his belief in the viability of production of paper at the factory and dismissed fictitious claim that they were outdated and un-operational. 

He said that the main agenda for revival team appointed by government under his stewardship was to prove the viability of the machines and produce good quality paper which if sold would generate money that could be used in clearing the long term lenders of the company. 

“I am proud to say that for the one year of spearheading the revival team, we have managed to prove that the factory is still viable and it’s worth reviving for the good of the community at large,” said Dr. Muliaro. 

He explained that his dispatch to the factory was part of an external program of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agricultural Technology (JKUAT) where he serves as a lecturer, which entails solving technical problems in the field. 

Mrs. Agnes Muliaro(left) and her husband Dr. Wafula Muliaro at the farewell party on Sunday. [PHOTO|Rosemary Wachiye|West Fm]

Following the end of his term at the factory, he now reveals that he is embarking on his teaching career at the university though he vowed to offer consultation when called upon to assist in the running of the firm. 

“Instead of the university lecturers to pass knowledge to their students and follow them up to assess their performance after studies, JKUAT thought it wise to introduce a program where lecturers get out in the field to apply their knowhow in solving problems in the society,” said Dr. Muliaro. 

Muliaro expressed his gratitude to the workers for their cooperation and implored them to extend the same to the receiver manager to assist the firm get up on its feet again. 

Muliaro assured the 1,500 workers of Pan Paper that their jobs were secure and once the factory starts operating under the receiver manager they would be considered for their positions back in the factory. 

Speaking at the same function, Mayor of Webuye Mr. Ali Machani challenged the receiver manager who had sent his representative Mr. Patrick Maina to emulate from the positive working relationship that his predecessor Dr. Muliaro had demonstrated. 

According to Mr. Machani before Muliaro had joined the firm, there was too much bureaucracy and most of the junior staff were not allowed into the offices of their supervisors regardless of whatever issue they had. 

 “Asians who were former owners of the factory had set restrictions that did not allow for the local people to learn how to operate the machines making them the sole operators but when they left, local people have demonstrated that they could also perform and produce paper juts like them,” revealed Machani. 

In a lighter tone, he told the workers to take the closure of the Mill as a blessing in disguise to empower them with technical knowledge of operating the machines and even some of them being employed in managerial positions at the firm. 

He also revealed that the main problem that has brought about the on and off operation and unstable condition of the factory is the lack of communication between managers and the staff and called for continuous consultation between the two groups to enable the mill to be revived. 

Many of the workers praised the outgoing manager for his endless zeal; determination and prayer that had led to the revival of the factory and miraculous production of over 3,000 Metric tonnes of paper in the shortest period that he run it. 

It is one month now since the Receiver Manager Mr. Ian Small took over the running of the company, his main task was evaluate the factory and value it so as to play the major role of selling it out to private investor .