PS Industry State Department for Industry Visits Rivatex East Africa Limited
Dr. Juma Mukhwana, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Industry in the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry earlier today visited Rivatex East Africa Limited textile manufacturing company based in Eldoret town, UasinGishu County.
The Ps, excited by the work being done at the company, commended the management for their efforts while also unveiling plans for the factory under the new regime.
“Today we decided to visit Rivatex East Africa Limited, which you all know had collapsed earlier. I want to thank the management of this factory for reviving it till it now has employed up to 1000 of our sons and daughters.” Said Dr. Mukhwana.
Unveiling plans scheduled under the new regime, the PS emphasized the government’s manifesto to invest more in the manufacturing sector while also creating more employment opportunities for the youth.
“You all know that the Kenya Kwanza government promised Kenyans to revive the manufacturing sector while also creating more opportunities for the youth and one way is by having factories like this. Another way involves the revival of the collapsed companies and Eldoret had Ken Knit, Raymond, and Farmer’s Choice that were working but collapsed due to liberalization and bad policies.” Added Dr.Juma.
The PS said the government has pumped up to 7 billion shillings into the factory over the last 5 years and has unveiled plans to grow the textile manufacturing industry targeting to grow the revenue generated ten times the last 50 billion generated last year while also employing 500,000 individuals from a current 50,000 over the next 5 years.
“In the last 7 years, the government has invested up to 7 billion shillings on these machines so as to revive textile manufacturing. As we are talking, under the AGOA agreement with the USA, Kenya can export textile products to America and we did export goods worth 50 billion shillings. With a workforce of about 50,000 people in our Athi River, Mombasa, Rivatex, and other factories, we plan to have 500,000 employed individuals and exports worth 500,000 shillings in the next 5 years.” Noted Mukhwana.
Highlighting the cotton shortage experienced by factories, the PS urged more farmers to plant cotton so as to meet the local demand needed which has relied heavily on imports to meet the factory’s demand.
“The main problem we have in this country is a cotton shortage. When factories stopped running, farmers stopped cotton planting, and we as a government allocated 50 million for cotton purchases, and this year we set aside 200 million for the same. We have talked and we want all governors to urge farmers to plant cotton because as of now a kilogram retails for 270 shillings. We will have cotton buying centers for farmers to sell because up to 80% of our cotton supply is imported.”Dr. Juma said.
Post Author
