A section of the East African Breweries Limited plant in Ruaraka. [Photo: businessdailyafrica]The county government of Kisumu has welcomed a move by the national government, to establish a new investment of Sh15 billion in the county.
On June 29, 2017 at State House, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that a modern state-of- the art brewery by the East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL) would be set up on a 50 acre piece of land which would create 110,000 jobs.
"We are elated by the announcement of Ksh15 billion investment on state of the art brewery in Kisumu by the East African Breweries Ltd.
As local leaders we are anxiously waiting for the East African Breweries Ltd team to come to the ground so that we can break this big news to our people here in Kisumu," said Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma.
Kenyatta made the announcement at State House, Nairobi, after holding talks with Ivan Menezes, Diageo Global CEO, who led the EABL team.
He noted that revival of operations at the East African Breweries Ltd in Kisumu has been in his heart and was something he ha been pursuing since he became governor in 2013.
"My administration had already started empowering our farmers to grow sorghum through provision of seeds and subsidised fertilizers to assist in large scale production in anticipation of the reopening of the firm," said the governor.Ranguma noted the planned revival gives him the motivation to push further for the revival of Kicomi factory which he said would also help in employing the youth. "I have already petitioned the State to legalise growing of BT cotton seeds which is key in revival of Kicomi," added the governor, upon receiving the good news.