The Nyandarua County government has earmarked Sh1.2 billion for setting up the long awaited potato processing plant in Olkalou.
County Executive Committee Member in charge of Industrialization, Trade and Cooperatives, Muthoni Wamuiya told the County Assembly that plans for the plant are already in place.
“A feasibility study has been done and a decision reached, that the plant shall be put up in Olkalou town on a 35-acre piece of land, part of which is currently owned by the Prisons Department,” she said.
She added that the study was conducted by the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation and the project has been allocated Sh 337 million in this year’s budget.
Meanwhile, during the same Assembly Session, the members inquired to know why the process of arbitration and development of Midland Company Limited had taken a long time despite being allocated funds in the current financial year’s budget.
“This is an issue that should be given kids love and be handled gradually with small steps at a time. There are a lot of emotions and we are still struggling to know who the real shareholders are,” said Wamuiya.
Wamuiya, who is also the acting County Attorney, further explained that according to the County Government policy, they are not allowed to put money in unstructured projects.
The County Governor, Francis Kimemia had said that they were planning to set up the plant during the signing of a contract with BASF and APR in Olkalou to establish cold storages in the county.
By Rita Gachoki and Caroline Muthiani
