Pokot Cement still waiting to get off the ground

The continued delay in establishing the Pokot Cement factory in Kenya, is infuriating local residents who expect to benefit from new job opprotunities. Today, prime land in the area whose value had risen, no longer attracts the interest of potential buyers, with the township remaining largely inactive.

West Pokot County Executive Committee member for trade, Monges Lotodo, said the authorities sought audience with the Ministry of Mining a month ago concerning the delayed plant. "We have convened a meeting with the investors; the public will be involved so that they can tell us the plans they have for the county."

Cemtech Sanghai was granted rights by the Government and the West Pokot County administration to extract limestone and manufacture cement; but as the days turned to years, no works have begun. The investors were to put up a KES12bn (US$119m) factory complete with staff houses, schools, a medical and staff training centre on a 650-acre farm.

However, since the launch in July 2010, work is yet to start.