This archive report was first published on 15 June 2020.
On January 31, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta, Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia, and Agriculture CS Peter Munya launched the Central Facility project, aimed at helping farmers add value to their potatoes and creating jobs for the youth.
Speaking during a courtesy call at Governor Kimemia's office in Engineer Town, Industrialisation Chief Administrative Secretary Lawrence Karanja announced that the construction of the Sh300 million plant would start this month.
According to Karanja, the start of construction would fulfill a pledge President Kenyatta made to county residents when he led a groundbreaking ceremony for the facility in Ol'Kalou on January 31 this year.
“We will have a meeting to hand over the construction site to the contractor on June 22, 2020,” Karanja said.
The facility is expected to help farmers add value to their potatoes and create jobs for the youth in Nyandarua and the wider region.
During the visit, Karanja also announced that his ministry would make numerous other opportunities available to Nyandarua’s traders, including a Sh5 million support package for Jua Kali sheds in Ol’Kalou.
Education Chief Administrative Secretary Zack Kinuthia, who was part of the delegation, rooted for enhanced enrolment in vocational training colleges (VTCs) and technical training institutes (TTIs), citing a government capitation of Sh15,000 for each student.
