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The Senate Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism met with Murangβa Governor Dr Irungu Kangβata to deliberate on the reasons for the closure of Murangβa County Creameries Factory.Β
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This comes after Murangβa 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.Β
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While appearing before the Trade Committee to answer Senator Nyutuβs concerns about the closure of the factory at Parliament Buildings earlier today, Governor Kangβata informed Senators that the factory was closed in June 2022 due to the accumulated debts owed to transporters, suppliers, farmers and staff salaries.
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He explained that his county government resolved to transfer the management and operations of the factory to Murangβa County Creameries Cooperative Union (MCCCU) which, subsequently, opened the creamery on 1st March 2024.Β
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βThe factory had 63 staff members who hadnβt been paid their five monthsβ salaries. They were paid all their accumulated salaries after I intervened. The factory is operational at the moment,β started Governor Kangβata.Β
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βMeanwhile, 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,β the Governor added.Β
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Governor Kangβata added that his government came up with a milk subsidy program thatβs aimed at empowering milk farmers through an automated system called an e-voucher, through which theyβll be collecting farm inputs from accredited agrovets or stores pay school fees and universal healthcare fees.
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Members of the Trade Committee counselled Governor Kangβata to ensure that his subsidy program is within the law to ensure the residents of Murangβa County get value for their money.Β
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βGovernor, you should put in place a legal framework that governs your subsidy program to ensure it is within the law,β counselled Kajiado Senator Lenku Seki, who also serves as the Committeeβs Chairperson.
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They asked the Murangβa boss to vet the agrovets and stores offering the subsidy program to ensure farmers get quality farm input and increase their yields.Β
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The Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Simon Chelugui is slated to officially open the relaunch of the factory tomorrow, 29th March 2024.