This archive report was first published on 2 December 2019.
Published on December 2, 2019, Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries is on the verge of shutting down its refinery section, putting at least 500 jobs at risk. The miller, situated in Kisumu, claims the decision is necessitated by poor performance due to hiccups created by government systems.
Managing Director Bhire Chatthe announced on Monday that the company is already in discussions about the possibility of relocating. Chatthe stated, "The investment has not taken off for the last four years and that is not good for business."
"The investment has not taken off for the last four years and that is not good for business," said Chatthe. Kisumu Governor, Prof Peter Anyang' Nyong'o, visited the factory on Monday in an attempt to persuade the management not to move out. Nyong'o emphasized the importance of the factory, which has a distillery, paper plant, gas plant, and a sugar miller, stating that it is the biggest investment in the entire lake region and must not be allowed to fail. "We cannot be talking about creating economic zones when factories are moving out," Nyong'o said. The factory has been embroiled in several court cases, which have threatened its operations. In early 2019, a high court in Kisumu halted operations at the factory following a court case by residents who claimed it was discharging harmful wastes into the environment. Related Topics: Kibos Sugar, Peter Anyang' Nyong'o
