Nyandarua farmers call for re-opening of potato processing plant

The county government has been given two weeks to re-open the multi-billion shilling Midland vegetable processing plant. The plant was closed down 10 years ago for mismanagement.

The angry farmers and local youths marched to the processing plant located in Njabini town and called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to help revive the company.

Addressing the Press, local youth leader Patrick Chege said potatoes worth millions of shillings were going bad due to the plant's closure.

Mr Chege said the plant had the capacity to employ over 1,000 people and storage of up to 18,000 metric tonnes of potatoes.

"This is the only processing plant of its kind in East and Central Africa but it is being under-utilised due to political interference mainly from the county government," he said.

Chege also claimed there were plans to demolish the plant and relocate it to Ol Kalau.

Former area councillor, Jamleck Kagwima, said the plant was worth over Sh1.4 billion.

He noted that the Government had helped revive sugar industries in Western Kenya and as such, farmers from the region should also benefit.

"The whole problem lies with the county government, which is opposed to reopening the plant," he said.