The Luhya Elders Forum has opposed the official opening of Pan Paper Mill by President Uhuru Kenyatta. Addressing the media in Bungoma, the elders led by the chairman Burudi Nabwera termed the industry as a private entity that will not benefit the community upon its reopening.
"President Uhuru Kenyatta should not be coerced into opening Pan Paper because it is a private business and the government has nothing to do with opening it unless it has shares in it," said Nabwera.
It is widely believed that the industry is owned by an investor who also owns plywood firm, several sugar factories and an edible oil refinery in the country and purchased Pan Paper for Sh900 million after beating five other bidders. President Mwai Kibaki held a colourful ceremony in Webuye in 2010 to reopen the factory but the factory closed shortly after the government pumped million of shillings in it.
The elders said former employees are yet to be paid their dues yet plans are underway to revive the factory which collapsed about 10 years ago.
"Let all 1,600 ex-employees be paid first. The industry collapsed before they were paid, let the President ensure that they are paid instead of coming here to play politics because the government has nothing to do with Pan Paper," said Ludava.
"We are not against the president's visit to the Bungoma, but let him not hoodwink us that he has come to give us goodies that we haven't seen," noted Okumu a member of the elder's forum.