Governor Jack Ranguma has called on Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) players in the garment industry to take advantage of the recently opened garment making training machine at Kisumu National Polytechnic.
The Sh18 milion facility funded by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) is intended to reach over 430 SMEs linked to the garment industry will have a tremendous impact in Kisumu County.
Ranguma officially opened the garment making cluster at Kisumu National Polytechnic on Friday, saying the facility is a perfect replacement of Kisumu Cotton Mils (Kicomi) which collapsed over a decade ago.
The initiative is set to benefit students from Kisumu National Polytechnic, designers as well as create employment for many youth who will benefit from the value chain.
"This project will not only benefit the students at Kisumu Polytechnic but will help in training more youth to empower them as professionals in fashion and design. From now you will not have to import clothes anymore. They have been brought closer to you," said Ranguma.
The project is expected to open-up more opportunities of employment for the residents of Kisumu, particularly for the youth and women.
Governor Ranguma said plans to revive cotton growing in Kisumu to support the project is underway, with residents set to benefit from subsidised hybrid cotton seeds alongside other incentives to kick-start the process so as to provide steady supply of raw material to the facility.
"We have the ability to produce enough cotton to dress the entire country and this opportunity has presented itself here for us to utilise the ability. I fully support it and will do all I can to see that our people benefit the most from this project," he added.