NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 5 – A multi-billion shilling fertiliser plant that will meet the specific soils and crop conditions across the country has been launched in Uasin-Gishu County.
The first project of its kind in Kenya, which is being spearheaded by the Toyota Tsusho Fertilizer Plant, will bring down the cost of production upon its completion.
Chairman of Toyota Kenya, Dennis Awori said the plant with modern coating and screening will guarantee quality and consistency for the 150,000 tones that will initially be produced per year.
“Our state-of-the-art blending, with modern coating and screening will guarantee quality and consistency for the 150,000 tonnes per year that we will initially produce,” Awori noted.
Awori said the company’s vision in the next five years would be to invest in most of the key sectors of the economy including infrastructure, oil, gas transport, energy and agriculture.
“Within agriculture, we have already begun to participate in the mechanization of farming by taking on the representation of Yanmar and Case Tractors and Equipment,” Awori added.
Launching the plant, Deputy President William Ruto said the project will also tackle the increasing problem of soil acidity even as it replaces lost nutrients.
“We will have a manufacturing plant that will be sensitive to soils and crops. This means we will have fertilizers whose soils survey has already been done.” he added.
Ruto said the government was committed to the development of the agricultural sector, which is the backbone of the country’s economy.
“As a government we are putting more priority in the agricultural sector because it is the backbone of our economy. This is why we are initiating projects which can transform the lives of the people,” he said.
He told county governments to focus on projects aimed at uplifting the living standards among the people.
“County governments should focus more on agro processing, value addition and manufacturing if we are to address the problem of unemployment and improve peoples’ lives,” he said.
Ruto lauded the role played by the Japanese government in transforming the lives of Kenyans through initiation of various development projects.
“I want to assure the government and people of Japan that they have our unqualified support in this project,” Ruto added.
Japanese Ambassador Tatsushi Terada said his country would continue to cooperate with Kenya on matters of development.
“Japan will continue to partner with Kenya in initiating projects aimed at improving the lives of the people,” Terada added.
