Construction of Sh50m granite factory kicks off in Vihiga

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Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Construction of a Sh50 million granite factory expected to turn around the economic fortunes of Vihiga County has begun.

Four years ago, the national government in conjunction with the county government announced their intent to construct a factory that would turn the rocky mountains in the county into cash.

Early this week, construction of the factory kicked off at Ebuyangu.

On Friday, Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo toured the factory's 10-acre site and pledged to fast-track construction for the factory to be ready by early next year.

Widescope Construction Limited, the company that won the tender to build the factory, has already fenced off the land and has started putting up an administration office at the site.

Vihiga County is synonymous with the huge rocks that dot its landscape.

Granite helps in the production of various construction materials like tiles and terrazzo.. [iStockphoto]

The ambitious project sought to attach economic value to stones, boost development and create jobs. Strain on farming land has forced many people in Vihiga to relocate to Kakamega, Trans Nzoia and Nandi counties.

If utilised well, granite helps in the production of various construction materials like tiles and terrazzo.

“I want to thank President Uhuru Kenyatta for fulfilling his promise of giving us a factory. I am glad that he listened to me and the people of Vihiga at large,” said Dr Ottichilo.

The 10-acre piece of land was acquired by the county government for the granite factory in 2018 when the project was supposed to start.

"After my election five years ago, I initiated numerous visits to the national Ministry of Mining on establishing the factory after seeing my people suffer with the idle stones. In July 2020, I handed over a title deed of the 10-acre piece of land my government donated to the national government for the establishment of the firm," said Ottichilo.

Petroleum and Mining Cabinet Secretary John Munyes visited the site on July 26,  last year, and revealed that an Italian investor was ready to pump money into the Vihiga granite factory.

Many Vihiga residents were raising concern on the delay of the construction and have called on the government to complete the project on schedule.