News Categories: Trade, Tourism, Investment & Industrialization

Following the successful installation of all required equipment, Nandi County Textile Unit (Natex) is prepared to begin operations.

All that is needed for it to function is for Kenya Power to build a transformer at the facility; after that, operations would start formally.

Apart from clothing manufacturing, Natex will be vital in giving our young people hands-on, practical training.

Embroidery, knitting, garment making, fashion design, production, merchandising, and patent drafting and design are all included in the  training programme.

On a national and worldwide scale, these abilities are highly valued. They will be ready for prosperous employment in the textile industry  thanks to this practical training.

For the plant to continue producing goods for the market, a crucial portion of the skilled staff will also be kept on staff.

In addition, Natex will act as a centre for entrepreneurship development, giving graduates of textile programmes the chance to create and promote their own brands, enabling them to launch and expand their own companies.

The establishment of further cottage businesses in the areas of wood processing, plastic formwork for household items, leather and shoe manufacture, and many more products is part of a second phase of these activities.

The goal of this programme is to increase entrepreneurship, which will hasten industrialization both inside and outside the county and thus boost economic growth.

The Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) is in accordance with this.

The Boda Boda sector in Nandi County has greatly increased employment for youth and has significantly contributed to the growth of the country’s economy. The County Government of Nandi has pledged to support the sector through various initiatives.
Governor Stephen Sang, EGH has emphasized the importance of forming and joining Sacco’s during a meeting with sector leaders, as it is the most secure way to access government support.

He added that, collection of revenue is key in running government projects and hence agreed with the sector leadership on resumption of bodaboda stickers, as it will also enhance sanity in management of the sector.

The county has 25 designated bodaboda stages in Kapsabet town and each has a unique numbering system. A colour coding system was also used previously to distinguish operators in different sub counties.

Nandi CECM for Trade, Tourism, Industrialization and Enterprise Development CPA Alfred Lagat assured the riders that the department will provide them with office space for easy coordination and management. He also urged the operators to form associations and take advantage of government machinery offered to such associations through MSEA. In addition, Loan schemes including the enterprise fund will also be established to boost up the sector.

Other issues that cropped up during the meeting including security and street lights were addressed by CECM Administration, Public Service and ICT, Isaiah Keter who assured the operators of full support in their welfares.
Traffic police officer, Ms Linda urged the operators to observe traffic rules citing that with strict adherence to law, the number of accidents will go down by far.

In attendance where CEC Finance and economic planning CPA. Hillary Serem, Municipal Manager Mr Ngeny, Head of Revenue Nicholas Biwot among others. #ContinuedTransformation

Nandi CEC for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech has urged women in Nandi County to form groups to enable them benefit from the various government development projects.

The CEC Member urged women to seek information on county and national government opportunities and also take part in public participation forums such as the budget making process.

Ruth said women should also come together and register companies where they shall be able to apply for tenders.

She said 30 per cent of the tenders are allocated to women, youth and people living with disabilities.

The CEC said both the county and the national government are committed to ensure that marginalized groups such as women, youth and the disabled access opportunities that will enable them realize their full potential.

In her part the CEC nominee for Education, Sports Culture and Youth Affairs Scolastica Tuwei said that social and economic empowerment through various development programmes is paramount for a community’s development.

She said the participation of women in social and economic areas have helped in poverty eradication programmes.

She also called on the youth to form groups in order for them to benefit from the hustler fund from the national government. She further called on the boda boda operators to form or join Saccos.

They were speaking jointly during the opening of Joyful Women Organization (JOYWO) Offices in Kapsabet Town.

The County Government of Nandi is committed to all efforts made for the advancement of women, especially in the economic, social and cultural areas. The County is convinced that the advancement of women is one of the primary points of allowing society to create an atmosphere conducive to development.

The County Government of Nandi has established 32-Unit market stalls at the open air market in Baraton. Open air markets are usually a beehive of activity teeming with vendors and consumers.

It is for this reason that the County has ensured proper hygiene and sanitations are put in place. Sufficient water supply, toilets and an organized waste disposal management were provided to ensure the market meets its needs.

There is a high mast lighting system at the market hence trading activities can run till late hours. Upgrades and modifications to sections of the market are still on-going.

In a public participation exercise held on Tuesday the residents applauded the operationalization of the market and further requested for additional stalls and a market shade.

Addressing the residents during the meetup, the Municipal Manager, Mr. Ngeny, assured the residents of enough security and general facelift of the market. He commended the traders for the recent increase in trading activities and promised to follow up on addition of stalls as requested.

Mr. Ngeny further urged the traders to form a Market Committee for easy coordination with county government. Present during the public participation were Chesumei sub-county administrator Mr. Kemboi, Chemundu/Kapngetuny ward administrator and officers from Trade department and County Public health office.

The County Government of Nandi in partnership with Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA) is in the process of operationalizing the MSE Sector plans.

MSEA is a State corporation under Ministry of industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development mandated to promote, develop and regulate Micro and Small Enterprise (MSEs) in the country.

MSEA is working closely with the Department of Trade, Investment and Industrialization in linking MSEs with markets through Exhibitions, establishing and operationalizing worksites for Jua Kali artisans, capacity building for MSE traders and mobilization of registered associations to utilize machineries provided by the government.

The county has constructed Industrial Development Centres (IDC) worksites in Nandi Hills and Kobujoi which are in use while others in Chepterwai, Kurgung, Lessos, Kobujoi and Maraba will begin its operations before long.

The partnership calls for MSEs to form and register associations each with 35 members in order to benefit from these IDCs and industrial machineries which, will be fully owned by the association. The MSEs in agri-business sector can also be provided with cold storage facilities for perishable goods.

Ms. Wilter Moraa from MSEA North Rift region, in a meeting with the department technical team, mentioned the areas of cooperation to include research and capacity building of MSEs in Nandi. It was agreed that it is their joint duty to mobilize MSEs in Trade, Service, Agri-business and manufacturing sectors to form these associations.

She further stated that MSEA is working with Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP) to provide Business Development Services to Youth-owned enterprises and granting financial support to promote their businesses ventures.

The Kenya industrial research development institute(KIRDI), Western Region Centre is currently hosting a stakeholder round table discussion and later, a familiarization tour of the facility. Gracing the occasion is the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprises Development, Hon. David Osiany who is in Kisumu for a three day official visit.

Also present at the meeting are the LREB CEO and Secretariat; LREB County CECMs in charge of Trade and Industrialization(Trade Pillar), Council of Governors (C.O.G) representatives, KIRDI officials, and the Kisumu County Commissioner.

The round table discussion is centered around trade promotion and investment development within the region, and inter-trade relations with bordering blocs.

The CAS has louded the bloc for the much it has done to bring counties together and formulating a trade policy that not only seeks to promote trade and investment in the region, but also provide linkages for its 14Million+ citizens to conduct commercial activities hence improved livelihoods.

The LREB Trade and Industrialization pillar lead CECM Jacob Tanui in his address briefly gave an overview of the current status and projects ongoing in the bloc and the future plans the bloc has towards promoting investments and increasing trade volumes within and beyond the bloc.

Promotion of fair trade is a key mandate for the department of trade, investment and industrialization. Through the weights and measures subsector, the department achieves this through Ensuring use of uniform system of units of measurements in trade; Regulating the manufacture, sale, use and repair of weighing and measuring equipment for use in trade; Regulating sale of goods and services in terms of quantity and quality; and Protecting consumers against misdescription and misrepresentation in the sale of goods and in the provision of services across the county. It also seeks to protect consumers against counterfeit products.

The department is currently undertaking verification and stamping of weighing instruments throughout the county. Initial verification is usually done to new weighing equipment that have never been stamped before including new weigh bridges, pumps, scales among others. Periodic or Subsequent verification is done annually to equipment and instruments already in use. A certificate of verification is then issued. The team is deployed to every sub-county.

Thereafter, inspection is done to enforce the requirement of weights and measures Act Cap 513 and the Trade Descriptions Act Cap 505. During this exercise, the county weights officers check and seize equipment in use that have not been verified.

The team also enforces the sale and labelling of goods around business premises to ensure they are done as per Act Cap 515 of Weights and Measures.  In ordinary trade transactions, the law ensures that during the sale of any commodity in loose form, the quantity delivered to the purchaser is not less than the quantity contracted and paid for. This legal control on the performance, accuracy and use of weighing and measuring equipment saves consumers from huge losses thereby contributing to the protection of their purchasing power and hence to their ability to purchase more.

Sadly, it has been witnessed a number of times in some shops and butcheries across the county whereby the consumer gets less the quantities they pay for. Such cases have been reported and action taken against them. All Nandi County residents are urged to be vigilant and report such acts to the county department of trade through the toll-free number 1548 to ensure fair trade is conducted in Nandi.

The law requires every package to carry thereon, or on a label securely affixed thereto, information on name of product and address of the manufacturer or packer, number of net weight or measure of the goods in the package, and in some cases the date marking showing the last day, month and year by which the goods may be sold. This information should be conspicuous, legible and prominent so as to be readily seen and understood by a prospective purchaser. Consumers are encouraged to be bold enough and inquire on such information as a right before purchasing. Let’s be proactive and promote fair trade.

The County Government of Nandi through the department of Trade, Investment and Industrialization is working towards ensuring that the Traders and Entrepreneurs within the county are being sensitized on the regulations of selling and supplying alcoholic drinks.

The department held a sensitization meeting at Mosoriot in Chesumei Sub-County whereby they educated the Traders on ways of adhering to norms and regulations stipulated on selling and distributing alcoholic drinks.

The CECM for Trade, Investment and Industrialization Jacob Tanui told the Mosoriot Business Community that it’s the county mandate to protect and ensure that their businesses do run well as well as adhere to the code of conduct of selling alcoholic drinks.

“Our principal mandate as a department is to protect the business community, we urge you to cling to the code of conduct governing the sell and distribution of Alcoholic drinks,” said Tanui.

Tanui further asked them to clasp to the covid-19 protocols to avoid suspension of the business permits as well as the closure of their business premises.

Also in attendance was NACADA’s officer Scola Komen; who urged the business community to be Keen on whom they are selling alcoholic drinks.

This is after studies showed that children below the age of 18 are consuming alcohol more than people at the age of 18 and above.

“NACADA’s main objectives is to ensure proper and regulations of Alcoholic drinks and Drugs such as cigarettes are not sold to the persons below the age of 18,” she said.

#Execessive consumptions of Alcohol is harmful to your health.

#Tuga Tai transforming Nandi County.