This archive report was first published on 24 April 2020.
Local Firms Shift to Produce PPEs Amid High Demand ¶
As the war against coronavirus intensifies, various manufacturers in Nakuru town have increased their output to meet the high demand for essential products. The companies include textiles giant Bedi Investments, which was primarily producing garments for export to Europe.
On April 22, 2020, workers at the Bedi Investments Textile factory were producing Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for use by healthcare workers in hospitals in Nakuru. The company received approval from the government to produce PPEs and has since rolled out mass production.
"We have stopped production of garments for export and now focus on manufacturing PPEs. Kenya is at war with the virus and we must equip our frontline soldiers, who are the medics, for them to give their best," said Jaswinder Bedi, the company manager.
Bedi added that it took the company two weeks of research and consultation with global experts to have consensus on the quality of PPEs to produce. The company is now producing 5,000 sets of PPEs per day, which include masks and gowns.
"We had 400 workers, who would have been laid off but instead we employed more," said Bedi. The company intends to expand its production and roll out 10,000 sets per day in the next one week to meet the local demand.
Bedi also stated that the company will make a donation of masks to the local community and ensure the residents access them at subsidised costs. Governor Lee Kinyanjui lauded the company's work, adding that his administration will support the local manufacturers by procuring the products from them.
"The national government has approved the products from the textile factory. The county shall procure its next batch from the company to promote local industries during these tough economic times," said Kinyanjui.
Other companies in Nakuru, such as Menengai Oil Refineries and Pepea Millers, have also increased their production of essential products. Menengai Oil Refineries is working on a production line for hand sanitizers, while Pepea Millers has made massive donations of soap and flour to the county emergency response committee.
Nakuru Royal Industries has increased its production capacity for water tanks necessary in supporting sanitation. The company has donated water tanks to police stations and various households across the county.
As part of the efforts to combat the pandemic, all Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions in the county have been directed to start mass production of face masks. The County Public Health Department has urged companies and institutions to make masks that meet standards set by the World Health Organisation.
"Principals and instructors have been informed on how the masks should be made to ensure they meet the set standards," said Governor Kinyanjui. Masks from the institutions will further be subjected to quality tests as per the Kenya Bureau of Standards and Ministry of Health before they are made available for public use.
