Last weekend Governor Susan Kihika and Nakuru residents were over the moon after the recent groundbreaking ceremony which was conducted at Kentegra Biotechnology.
Present for the event were Governor Susan Kihika, H.E. U.S. Ambassador Meg Whitman, Governor Wisley Rotich, and Kentegra CEO Brian McKenzie among other politicians and stakeholders.
On the special day, they laid the foundation for a project that will have a great impact on pyrethrum growing, empower the farming community, and build Nakuru’s economy. This is a big breakthrough to farmers from the county who have already embraced the crop.
The event marked the beginning of a journey outlined in Governor Susan Kihika’s manifesto to maximize agricultural potential through value addition.
The locals expressed their excitement as the establishment of the factory will create employment opportunities for the local workforce and enhance their livelihoods.
The factory is estimated to have the capability to process over 300,000 tonnes of pyrethrum by the end of the year. This even cements the confidence for potential investors and existing farmers in the crop.
Already, it’s estimated there are more than 2000 farmers from various pyrethrum growing wards, for the likes of Embobut, Sambirir, Kapyego among others which have grown about 1000 acres under pyrethrum.
Kentegra has offered a great market value, with a minimum of Sh260 a kilo and guaranteed to prompt payment via mobile money transfers. This is a plus, and the numbers are expected to rise since several farmers have already shown interest.
In conjunction with the day’s launch, the governor of Elgeyo Marakwet, Wisley Rotich, announced that there will be an almost similar launch in Kapyego and Lelan in the next coming weeks. He acknowledged that there was a challenge in seed demand but he mentioned that it was being addressed.
