The Senate Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism met with Murang’a Governor Dr Irungu Kang’ata to deliberate on the reasons for the closure of Murang’a County Creameries Factory. 

This comes after Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu raised the issue on the Floor of the House through a request for a statement in which he sought the Committee to explain the county government's plans to revive the factory and ensure farmers continue selling their milk. 

While appearing before the Trade Committee to answer Senator Nyutu’s concerns about the closure of the factory at Parliament Buildings earlier today, Governor Kang’ata informed Senators that the factory was closed in June 2022 due to the accumulated debts owed to transporters, suppliers, farmers and staff salaries.

He explained that his county government resolved to transfer the management and operations of the factory to Murang’a County Creameries Cooperative Union (MCCCU) which, subsequently, opened the creamery on 1st March 2024. 

“The factory had 63 staff members who hadn’t been paid their five months’ salaries. They were paid all their accumulated salaries after I intervened. The factory is operational at the moment,” started Governor Kang’ata. 

“Meanwhile, the creamery has not paid union claims worth 5,044,986.25 and gratuity worth 7,851,367. We have plans to give them priorities once the factory is revived based on their qualifications, competency and institutional memory,” the Governor added. 

Governor Kang’ata added that his government came up with a milk subsidy program that’s aimed at empowering milk farmers through an automated system called an e-voucher, through which they’ll be collecting farm inputs from accredited agrovets or stores pay school fees and universal healthcare fees.

Members of the Trade Committee counselled Governor Kang’ata to ensure that his subsidy program is within the law to ensure the residents of Murang’a County get value for their money. 

“Governor, you should put in place a legal framework that governs your subsidy program to ensure it is within the law,” counselled Kajiado Senator Lenku Seki, who also serves as the Committee’s Chairperson.

They asked the Murang’a boss to vet the agrovets and stores offering the subsidy program to ensure farmers get quality farm input and increase their yields. 

The Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Simon Chelugui is slated to officially open the relaunch of the factory tomorrow, 29th March 2024.