Construction of the stalled Madala tea factory in Shinyalu constituency, Kakamega county will begin afresh, Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has said.
He said the Sh650 million factory will be a joint venture between the county government and KTDA on a 50-50 basis.
“The agreement between the county and KTDA for the establishment of the factory is going on and the two parties will sign the agreement in December. The governor will launch the project in January,” Savula said.
He said a committee that was established to look into the project revealed that no work has been going on since its launch four years ago.
Savula, who chaired the fact finding committee said this is despite the county spending Sh50 million on feasibility studies and launch.
"When we went on the ground and established that nothing is happening on the ground. We have since discharged the contractor who has been on site," he said.
The Deputy Governor said that the previous administration had not procured a license from the Kenya Tea Development Agency for the project.
The Madala factory was one of the flagship projects birthed by retired governor Wycliffe Oparanya alongside the Malava milk processing plant.
The stalled Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital and the upgrading of Bukhungu stadium to international standards were some of his other projects.
The project was initiated in the first term of Oparanya’s regime in 2016 and was to be completed by July 2022.
“Tax payers’ money has already been spent on these projects but residents have not received value for their money. We will just ensure their completion but those involved in their stalling must take responsibility,” he said.
Savula said the project is one of the stalled projects being investigated by the county assembly.
Others are Shamakhubu level 4 hospital, Mumias Level 4 hospital in Mumias West subcounty and a maize milling plant in Lugari constituency.
He said the county has allocated Sh67 million for the completion of Shamakhubu hospital which is expected to be completed and operating by December this year.
