A worker checks beer bottles on a conveyor belt at the East African Breweries factory in Ruaraka. [Photo|Standard Digital]
Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) has announced plans to recruit 15,000 sorghum farmers in Nyanza region.
The firm's managing director Jane Karuku said the farmers to grow the drought-resistant crop, will be recruited before the Kisumu plant commences operations next year.
Speaking during a status update on the project, Karuku noted the plant would be an engine of economic development and catalyst in the lakeside region.
"The new plant will provide an expanded market opportunity mainly for sorghum farmers in Nyanza region and will offer a guaranteed market for the crop," she said, as quoted by Business Daily.
The brewery boss added: "Over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created when the plant construction is completed and operations begin."
Karuku revealed that the brewery, whose groundbreaking was commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta, is projected to handle up to a quarter of the output of the giant firm.
"We have made a lot of progress at the new plant site since July and we are delighted at the progress," she noted.