KMC to axe employees in restructuring exercise

By MOSES NJAGIH

Nairobi, Kenya: Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei says the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) processing plant is obsolete and is set for major restructuring process that will also see about half of its current staff retrenched.

Koskei said that in the efforts to bring the parastatal to profitability and ensure efficiency in the troubled institution, the ministry was planning to bring down the meat processing plant, which he termed as obsolete.

The Cabinet Secretary said the plant, which was put up in the 1950’s, could not perform efficiently to meet the demands of the market and further give investment returns, a move they now want to reverse.

He told the Senate committee on Agriculture, chaired by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi, that they have already set financial programmes and secured Sh700 million in the coming financial year to start the restructuring process.

Koskei further said the government was willing to take business loss for the period the facility will be shut down, but ensure that it returns to profitability and efficiency.

“Even if we do not slaughter for a whole year, it will be a preferable price to pay because we are certain that we will emerge more efficient,” he said.

Koskei added: “We already have a ready market, especially in the middle East where many countries are asking for our produce. We also have sufficient supply and that is why we want to fix the inefficiency” 

But Koskei revealed that this exrcise will come at a cost as about half of the staff will have to be retrenched.

“The facility is overstaffed. It has in excess of 450 workers, when only 200 are required. We will bring down the whole system in the next financial year and put up a modern plant. We will also retrench staff to ensure only the required number is retained,” he disclosed.

Koskei said they were now seeking a contractor to undertake the construction of a new system.