GOVERNMENT SHOULD REVIVE WEBUYE PAN PAPER INDUSTRY

KENYAN INDUSTRIES ARE DYING SLOWLY

By Maritim Kipngetich

A picture showing a cross-sectional view of Webuye Pan Paper industry. The paper industry is no longer in operation due to mechanical problems. PHOTO BY MARITIM KIPNGETICH/SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, UON

The vision of Kenya to become an industrialized nation by 2030 may be derailed by the closure and breakdown of many industries across the country. The Webuye Pan paper, which was the main producer of papers in the country, developed a mechanical problem that the government has never thought of solving. It went down the train a decade ago making approximately a thousand people lose jobs.

The suppliers of the raw materials for making papers had to opt for other means of living since they would not supply their materials anymore.

The Webuye Pan Paper was the only paper industry in the country. The newspaper making companies in the country have been forced to import their plain papers from Australia to enable them carry out their businesses.

It may not be an easy task to import materials that are supposed to be used daily. The newspaper companies in the country which include the Nation Media Group which produces the Daily Nation Newspaper, the Business Daily, the Sunday Nation and Saturday Nation; the Standard media group which produces the Standard Newspaper; the Mediamax which produces the People Daily; the Radio Africa Media Group which produces the Star Newspaper and many other magazine and evening papers producing companies, have to pay a lot of import duties.

The paper industry, that enjoyed its monopoly power for many years, has left emerging generation in Kenya who would want to put their resources in books depend on small producing paper industry like Andika Paper industry.

A picture showing old and dilapilated structures of Webuye Pan Paper industry. PHOTO BY MARITIM KIPNGETICH/ SOJ, UON

The sleeping giant paper industry in Western Kenya may cost the government six billion shillings to start working as before. The industry would be very productive since approximately 2000 people could get employment.

A lot of money is lost through corruption in the country while very productive projects are left out. The politicians have been discussing the Webuye Pan Paper for many years in the National Assembly, but nothing tangible has come out of those discussions.

The recent closure of Dry Cell making company, Eveready, in Nakuru generated a heated debate in the country. Though the industry had fewer workers compared to those who worked in Webuye, it was seen as a major stumbling block in the development of industries in the country.

The Eveready industry was a landmark in Nakuru  considering the fact that it was  among the first industries that were built in 1960s in the area.

The Jubilee Government should think of resuscitating the already existing industries instead of building others and leaving those which are already in existence to close down due to mechanical problems or lack of market.