Kenya: dispute over stalled cement plant

Local politicians in Kenya’s West Pokot county have clashed over delays which have seen the construction of a proposed cement plant make little progress for years, the Daily Nation reports.

Despite being announced a decade ago, building has yet to begin and local politicians appear split over whether to invite in new investors. The originators of the project, India’s Sanghi Group, retain the support of the local governor, while the county’s senator, John Lonyangapuo, has approached Desk Group to take over.

The KES1.2bn (US$12m) scheme acquired a 650-acre site five years ago, but, apart from ground levelling, work has yet to commence. General manager Diptish Nandha said that work would begin net year, adding: “We have solved the two major problems — quality of the limestone content and ground geometric technicality. These affected the location of the plant”.