Keep off Pan Paper Mills, Cotu warns politicians

COTU chairman Rajab Mwondi during a press briefing in Kisumu on May 8 2016. [Photo:COLLINS ODUOR/Standard]

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) has warned politicians from Western to stop politicising the planned reopening of Pan Paper Mills.

The union has accused politicians of engaging in propaganda to mislead the locals who should benefit from its reopening.

Speaking during a press conference in Kisumu yesterday, Union Chairman Rajab Mwondi said the politicians now questioning President Uhuru Kenyatta's intentions for reviving the factory failed to save it when they were in a better position to do so.

The Government recently announced plans to reopen the Webuye-based paper factory.

An investor is said to have set aside Sh6 billion, which will be used to acquire new machines and repair the factory's infrastructure as the reopening gets under way.

major shareholder

A section of area leaders however, claimed that the move was insincere and that the Government was only seeking votes in Western region.

Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu led those criticisng the decision to allow an investor to take over the firm. He argued that the Government was a major shareholder in the factory and should bail out the two mills.

"The Government slept as the two institutions were brought down. It is therefore the responsibility of the Government to make amends. It is not a favour and therefore the matter cannot be used for vote-hunting," said Mr Eseli.

Cotu criticised those opposed to the reopening, saying many leaders from the region who held ministerial positions in the past, never pushed for the factory's revival.

"The collapse of the factory was a blow to the economy of the region. About 3,000 workers were left jobless while 30,000 people who depended on the factory indirectly were pushed into abject poverty. Our concern should be how these people can get back to work and put food on their tables," said Mwondi.