Migori locals to benefit from Sh30m coffee factory

Deputy President William Ruto joins dancers during a meeting at Chinato Primary School grounds in Kuria East, Migori County, yesterday. [Caleb Kigwara, Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto has announced that the government will put up a Sh30 million coffee milling plant in Kuria East, Migori County.

Ruto said Ministry of Agriculture will fund the project with a grant of Sh15 million while the rest will be a loan to the four coffee cooperatives in the area through the Commodities Fund. “The Government will support small and large scale farmers to boost the country’s food security. The support to the farmers is part of the Government’s agenda four and the funding is well catered for in the current budget,” Ruto said yesterday at Chinato Primary School in Kuria East.

He added that more than 50,000 coffee seedlings will be issued to farmers in the next planting season through a government programme; Intergrade Coffee Productivity Project. The four coffee cooperatives in the area are struggling with a debt of more than Sh9.5 million.

Ruto promised to give a personal donation of Sh3 million while the rest of the debt will be rescheduled.

While commissioning the Sh2.8 billion Isebania- Ikerege- Kehancha-Ntimaru-Gwitembe- Ang’ata- Lolgorian road in Kuria West, the DP urged locals to shun retrogressive cultural practices.

Power project

“This area is prone to early marriages, teenage pregnancies and Female Genital Mutilation. These are issues that are affecting our young daughters. Let’s get alternative cultural activities to keep ourselves busy,” he said.

The DP further noted that the government will release Sh2 billion to fund electricity connectivity in Migori County. Ruto said the government will release Sh30 million for Kehancha Medical Training College and Sh500 million towards phase one of the Isebahania water project.