Kwale County has opened doors to its first shoe factory in Mvindeni area of Ukunda Township in Msambweni Sub County. The elaborate launching of the Sh.150m investment slated for this week has however been delayed due to coronavirus.
Josef Seibel Group, a German shoe making giant paid a courtesy call to Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya in his office to open the factory. He was accompanied by Josef Seibel Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stefan Wentzel and Director Elijah Musili.
The foreign investor said has employed 200 youth besides the factory acting as a training centre for local shoemakers. He has already started operations and rolling out the shoes under the brand name โRomikaโ.
Mr. Josef pointed out that Romika produces shoes that reflect the spirit of the times in both style and colour using the best textiles and finest leathers.
Quality equipment
โThe planned production is 1000 pairs of shoes per day until mid, 2021. For the time being only leather shoes for school children will be produced under the brand Romikaโ said Seibel during a media briefing. Comfort shoes are to be sold exclusively in Kenya and will match respective school uniforms,โ said Mr. Josef.
On his part Governor Mvurya said the factory comes at a time when investments especially in the manufacturing sector are mostly needed to stimulate economic growth during the Covid-19 pandemic. He acknowledged that all the equipment in the factory that began operations is some of the best in the world.
โI am glad they have already trained five Kwale natives in Germany on the shoe production who will then train new employees. This investment will create employment and contribute to economic growth and development and substitute the import of shoes from outside Kenya,โโ said governor Mvurya.
โThe new infrastructural development within Kwale his administration has been able to attract numerous investment, some of which are in the initial stages others are operational and some ready to start production,โ he added.
