Interior Cabinet secretary on Wednesday morning toured Kitui county in a move to inspect Kitui County Textile Centre (KICOTEC) an Industry which was given the mandate of manufacturing the uniforms of administration officers in Kenya by president Kenyatta.
Matiang’i was accompanied by health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki. The two were received by Kitui Governor Charity Kaluki Ngilu. Ngilu earlier said that KICOTEC is capable of producing the uniforms.
Speaking to the press during a tour of the ultra-modern garment production facility, the Governor said her government and the people of Kitui were grateful to President Uhuru Kenyatta, for the opportunity to produce the official attire of the National Government administrators.
“The President’s recent pronouncement which gives KICOTEC the chance to produce the uniforms for chiefs and their assistants is a great honor to the people of Kitui as it will ensure sustainable employment for our youths and support the growth of our local economy,” said Mrs. Ngilu.
According to Matiang’i big cartels from the government had already positioned themselves to siphon public money through importation tenders of new police uniforms. Matiang’i stood his ground and opposed the move saying that Kenya had the capabilities of manufacturing its own uniform.
The new industry means that those hoping for an otherwise change of tune from the ministry of interior are all doomed. The government will now fully utilise the industry to produce different state garments.
President Kenyatta announced that the newly opened garment-making facility will henceforth be producing official uniforms for chiefs and assistant chiefs. He was speaking at Masii Sub-County in Machakos County, during the launch of the ongoing nationwide Huduma Namba registration exercise.
Benefits to Kitui Residents
“KICOTEC has the capacity to produce 5000 units per day, employing the services of over 400 youths from Kitui whom we have trained and developed to work in the facility,” said Ngilu.
The facility can produce all manner of garments from trousers, shirts, skirts, blouses, sweaters, T-shirts, security uniforms, tracksuits, rain-coats, sports kits, bedcovers, and pillows as well as jumpers. It also has the capacity to provide embroidery, screen-printing, and large format printing services.
“With KICOTEC we can bring down this cost by eliminating such additional costs as transport while also providing employment opportunities to our youth,” added the Governor.
The Governor said that the facility will enable the county to retain cash in the local economy that is otherwise used to bring in uniforms from other counties.
“Over 90% of the money used to purchase uniforms has been leaving Kitui for other counties and even outside the Country since we didn’t have a uniform-making factory here. The fabric, materials, and accessories needed for the factory will be sourced from Kitui, therefore, growing our local distributors,” she said.