The Government has set aside Sh680 million to revive and expand operations at the Rift Valley Textile (Rivatex) mills in Eldoret, Deputy President William Ruto has said.
Mr Ruto said the move will give the ailing cotton industry a new lease of life.
Ruto said the Government would work with other stakeholders in providing facilities aimed at expanding the textile plant.
"The Government will spend Sh680 million to expand the textile plant and purchase equipment to facilitate its operations," Ruto said.
Speaking during the launch of the pilot laptop and tablets assembly project at the Rivatex plant yesterday, the Deputy President said there was need to focus on manufacturing.
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The project is spearheaded by Moi University.
Eliminate abuse
"As we appreciate the efforts by Moi University for the launch of this project, I want to ask the management of the university not to focus only on the assembling of laptops and the gadgets but also on manufacturing to create more jobs," said Ruto.
He said all Government departments have been asked to integrate e-procurement in tendering processes.
The move, he said, would ensure transparency, accountability and eliminate abuse of the country's existing procurement financial management process.
"We are moving all the Government services to the digital era to ensure cost -effectiveness as well as eliminate the challenges being witnessed in the tendering process," said Ruto.
He said the Government was moving away from cash payments to a digitalized system to curb corruption and wastage.
"Principal secretaries and heads of parastatals have been asked to ensure services are integrated to the e-procurement in tendering services within the shortest time possible," he said.
