Government has completed the revival of Rivatex, one of the oldest textile company in Kenya based in Eldoret and will be commissioned tomorrow by His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta. Revamped with ultramodern facilities, best in Africa and of the highest capacity in the region.
Rivatex is expected to be a source of employment to over 3,000 into the plant and over 50,000 in the value chain when fully operational. Ksh 4.8 Billion injected into the plant is expected to boost textile production up to 40,000 metres per day with diversified products to meet both local and international demand.
“We are very excited to have the President, His Excellency, Uhuru Kenyatta come and commission this plant. Reviving Rivatex using local content is in line with our fulfilment of the big four agenda. It is about Buy Kenya build Kenya. Our efficiency in production is going to be much higher.
We are also looking into cutting the cost of power to be able to cut costs of production, which in turn drives the cost of the end products. Our quality will be the standard, highest premium product and we can reduce the importation of fabric from other countries because we need t to create employment locally,” noted Rivatex Managing Director Prof. Thomas Kipkurgat.
While it is not about the revamped facility and the production units involved. The most critical component which is the raw material cotton which is expected to improve the livelihoods of the farmers in the region who have been dormant in cotton farming.
The management is looking forward to the government lifting the ban on the GMO variety of cottonseed that could boost production twice. The ban came to life in 2012 when the country banned the importation of GMO products.
“We actually don’t have seeds, we have been using recycled seed. If the government lifts the ban Bt cotton seeds which are genetically modified as farmers will realize high productivity and quantifiable return on their investment. With ample raw materials, we farmers can harvest 400kilos an acre to 1500kilos. We are looking to tap into cotton farmers in twenty-four counties to help with the supply of raw materials,” he added.
Having been included in the 2019/2020 budget, Kenyans can only hope that much good comes from this project, that will change the lives of Eldoret Residents and the economy at large.
