President Uhuru Kenyatta has personal interests in Webuye Pan Paper Mills, Kakamega Senator Bony Khalwale has sensationally claimed.
Speaking to Citizen TV on Wednesday Khalwale said that President Uhuru Kenyatta should come clear and declare what interests he has in the paper mill that stalled operations in 2008 after its electricity bills accumulated to more than Sh500 million under Indian investors who later fled.
"He cannot use the power of the incumbency to disenfranchise a whole community in the name of reviving the economy. We know that Rai is a business partner of the President," said Khalwale.
He was, however, unable to substantiate which interests the President has in the factory that has now employed over 500 people with the number expected to double by June this year.
"That is a story for another day. What we should know for now is that Webuye Panpaper Mills is a complex establishment worth over Sh18 billion and the reason why it was sold to the so-called strategic investor at paltry Sh800 million raises a lot of questions," said Khalwale.
Phase one of the Webuye Pan Paper Mills was officially opened on December 15, 2016 after Uhuru announced plans to reopen the factory in April saying an agreement with a strategic investor had been reached.The mill was then acquired by Rai Group who reportedly pumped Sh6 billion to revive it.
Noting job opportunities will be created and the economy boosted, Uhuru said their was no need for leaders to engage in retrogressive tribal politics.
''I ask all those who are making noise about this mill, where were they when this factory collapsed?'' he said.