Nandi county, Rivatex in new Sh50m deal for tailoring unit

Nandi county has established a textile value addition unit as it positions itself to enhance job and wealth creation. 

The county forged a deal with Rivatex fabric manufacturing firm in Eldoret for the supply of finished fabrics for tailoring at the Nandi Textiles (Natex), located at Mosoriot in Chesumei constituency, Nandi county. 

Natex, a flagship project in Nandi, eyes at tailoring school uniforms, dust coats, aprons and other fabric products to be sold to government and private institutions as an income venture. 

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The Nandi county administration has invested more than Sh50 million towards the first phase of construction of the Natex tailoring unit that is expected to open more job opportunities for the youth and boost the economic growth of the devolved unit. 

“Construction work has been finalised and all modern tailoring equipment has been imported. The structures cost Sh22 million while equipment and training consumed Sh30 million and the tailoring unit is expected to be fully operational once schools open next year,” said Trade executive Jacob Tanui. 

Tanui said the collaboration has seen the first batch of 300 youths trained in tailoring aspects, including designs and fashions, and are expected to boost the country’s initiative of ‘Buy Kenya, Build Kenya’. 

“With the MOU, Rivatex will sell us finished fabrics (processed materials) and the tailoring unit at Natex will add value, processing uniforms for our primary and secondary schools at subsidised prices, uniforms for hospitals, private security firms among other institutions,” Tanui said. 

Last week, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang inspected the projects and said: “The establishment will open more job opportunities to our youth as well as improving the economic growth of our county”. 

Yesterday, Tanui said they will not eye Nandi county alone for the provision of uniforms but target institutions across the Lake Basin Economic Bloc (LREB) and North Rift Economic Bloc (Noreb) where Nandi county is a member. 

“This is a transformative initiative and we are taking advantage of our proximity to Rivatex to access materials for value addition. This will enhance job creation for our youths and strengthen our economy,” added Tanui. 

“Among the latest equipment we have acquired include a 12-head and nine-head logo designers that will produce the required finished uniforms within the shortest time possible,” said Tanui. 

Governor Sang and Rivatex (MD) Professor Thomas Kipkurugat signed an MOU in 2018 for collaboration in the sector, including facilitating training and textile production initiatives. 

In the MOU, the parties agreed that each of them will designate a liaison officer to develop and coordinate collaboration activities that will include production and supply of quality textile materials, provision of technical assistance and staff training, and establishment of tailoring units.

The scope would also include setting up fashion and design programmes, the supply of uniforms for nurses, security personnel in the county enforcement unit, Early Childhood Development (ECD), and allocation of space for display for sale of products.

The government supported the revival of the Moi University-owned Rivatex that is now fully operational with the state-of-the-art facilities. Fabric processing is also set to boost more opportunities for cotton farmers.

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