The construction of a multi-million-shilling cement factory in Sebit, West Pokot County, has not kicked off a decade after it was commissioned.
The stalling of the project, which was commissioned in July 2010 by then Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has dashed hopes of the residents who expected to benefit economically and socially from job opportunities.
The investment project, which was expected to change the socio-economic lives of the Pokot community, has been commissioned thrice: By Mr Odinga, former West Pokot governor Simon Kachapin and his successor Prof John Lonyangapuo.
ltra-modern factory
Initially, Cemtech Limited won tender to implement the Sh1.2 billion cement factory but construction work is yet to start. The company acquired 650 acres on a 99-year lease period but only fenced the area ahead of the construction process.
The company was to put up an ultra-modern, environmentally friendly cement factory, along with staff houses, schools, medical centre, staff training centre and other amenities. It was also to put up a 64 MW power plant to be sold to the national grid.
The cement factory upon completion was expected to employ more than 4,500 people. Mining PS Peter Kaberia said the project remains a private investment and encouraged the private investors to take up the initiative to invest in it so that the local community’s socio-economic status can be improved. The residents attribute the project’s delayed implementation to political rivalry among local leaders and government departments and want the contentious issues resolved.
“We fail to understand why this project is taking so long to kick off despite the investor making several visits to the site. Many people came to the area immediately after the commissioning and put up business premises and rental houses targeting workers expected to be employed in the factory. They expected their businesses to improve and the economy of the county to grow. People have lost hope,” said Emmanuel Limarusi.
Political rivalry
The residents also accuse relevant government departments and their leaders for keeping quiet on the matter, despite being promised that the work was to commence immediately when the former prime minister commissioned the project.
“Our county government, Members of Parliament and councillors have never shown any signs of commitment on seeing that the work starts, and nobody has come to us to explain why the construction has not started,” said Selina Chepou Aswatum, a businessman at Sebit trading centre.
Mr Limarusi hails from Sebit, where immense limestone deposits — raw material for cement manufacturing — are found. Limestone deposits are found on both sides of the Kapenguria-Lodwar highway from Chepareria to beyond Ortum.
The residents have resorted to mining the limestone themselves, which they sell in form of ballast-sized stones along the highway at Sebit, Kapng’arng’ar and Ortum centres. A wheelbarrow of these stones cost Sh120 with locals lamenting over lack of a market for their products.
“We are selling along the road and those using this highway are the ones who come for these products. They go as far as Mombasa, Nakuru, Baringo and Lodwar. In a day, I can produce four wheelbarrows and I accumulate the stones until I get a substantial quantity like 30 tonnes, which
