Webuye Milk Factory constructed at US$1.09M remains non-operational

KENYA – The Webuye milk processing factory in Bungoma County, once hailed as a flagship project to transform the dairy sector in Western Kenya, has remained stalled years after its completion.

Built at a cost of US$1.09 million (KES 141 million), the facility was expected to provide a ready market for farmers, create jobs, and spur regional economic growth. Instead, it stands as an empty shell, its promise unfulfilled.

Completed in 2018, the factory has never been operational. No equipment was installed, leaving the structure as little more than a hollow building.

The Webuye milk processing plant was constructed by the Bungoma County government and was expected to provide locals with a reliable market for their dairy produce.

It was designed to process close to 40,000 litres of milk daily, empowering over 150,000 small-scale farmers in Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia counties.

After reports of its completion in 2021, the county government distributed dairy cows to farmers in an effort to start up the process. Also, it installed 21 milk coolers to serve as a collection point.

For local dairy farmers, the project’s failure has been a bitter disappointment.

Many had hoped it would stabilize milk prices, reduce reliance on middlemen, and open new opportunities for value addition. Instead, they continue to struggle with fluctuating markets and limited access to processing facilities.

The stalled factory has become a symbol of broken promises and mismanagement in public projects.

Activists and community leaders have raised sharp questions about accountability, demanding to know what became of funds earmarked for equipment and operationalization.

Kakamega County finds investor to help revive stalled milk factory

In 2024, the stalled milk factory in Malava constituency, Kakamega County, was set to be completed by December following a recent deal between the county government and investor ABF United Company Limited.

The construction of the milk processing plant, initiated by former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya in 2019, had faced delays, but the new agreement aims to breathe life into the project.

Governor Fernandes Barasa, during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with ABF United Company Limited, announced that they have reached a consensus on completing and operationalizing the project.

The milk plant is expected to generate 1,000 jobs, contributing significantly to local employment.

“We have agreed on modalities to complete the project before the year ends so that we can create jobs and support our dairy farmers who have eagerly awaited the completion of the project,” Governor Barasa stated.

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