Today marked the second day of the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) Trade Investment and Blue Economy Conference where President Uhuru Kenyatta today commissioned the new modernized KCC Sotik milk plant in Bomet County.
The President who was joined by his Deputy, William Ruto said that the new production line is part of the two pillars of their government’s Big 4 Agenda; food security and manufacturing.
According to President Kenyatta, the new milk plant is set to turn around the fortunes for milk farmers within the region and benefit the residents of Bomet county.
Speaking at the commissioning of the milk plant, the President said that milk produced by farmers will no longer go to waste as the plant is able to convert the milk to milk powder and later on reconstitute it into long shelf-life milk.
The factory seeks to create more employment opportunities, increase company profits and farmer rewards. The Sotik modernization has been done at a cost of Ksh. 200 million and will see the plant increase its production capacity from 50,000 – 100,000 litres. The new machinery has a capacity of producing 5,000 litres per hour” said, Nixon Sigey, KCC Managing Director.
The President also said that the LREB conference is important to him because it shows that regional development is absolutely central to Kenya’s development. He added that the theme of the conference, “Shared Resources for Prosperity” captures the intent of the Lake Region Economic Bloc as well as the national intent, spelled out in the words of Kenya’s National Anthem ‘Tuungane mikono pamoja kazini.’
President Uhuru Kenyatta also received a traditional gift ‘Sotet’ from a farmer in appreciation for his support of the modernization of Sotik Factory
The New Modernized KCC Sotik company is set to increase the company’s milk capacity from the current annual payout to farmers from Ksh. 4.5 billion to KSh. 6 billion.