Some leaders from Western region have cautioned against politicising the revival of Pan African Paper Mill saying dirty politics may scare away the investor. They said the move to revive the Webuye-based paper mill shows that the Jubilee government means well for the people of Western region.
Led by Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka, the leaders said the Jubilee government is keen to revive and revamp industries in the region including Mumias and Nzoia sugar companies. He was accompanied by Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama, Water Cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa, former Webuye MP Musikari Kombo and Bumula MP Bonface Otsyula.
Lusaka urged those criticising the move to rethink their position and avoid mixing development with politics. “We ask those who are politicising the revival of Pan African Paper Mill to keep off. President Uhuru Kenyatta means well for the people of Western,”he said.
The leaders said the revival of the paper mill is one of the things Uhuru promised the people of Bungoma in the run-up to the 2013 General Election and he has delivered. Kombo welcomed the move saying it was long overdue, adding that they are ready to work with the government to spur development in the region.
Nambale MP John Bunyasi urged the new investor to give residents first priority in employment once it reopens. He said the company will breath new lease of life into the sleepy Webuye town and more than 30,000 jobs will be created.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula, his Kakamega counterpart Boni Khalwale and Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba on Saturday demanded to know how much money the new investor offered for the company and why the residents were not consulted.
Last Thursday, President Uhuru announced that the mill, which was closed in 2008, would be revived in three months. A new investor, the Rai family is said to have acquired the mill and will pump into it Sh6 billion to revive the sleeping giant company.
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