By Team
Trouble is far from over for the paralyzed Kigoti Maize Mill after a Homa Bay Magistrate Court stopped the proposed leasing of the facility to a new investor.
The County Government of Homa Bay through an advertisement in an open national tender had called for expression of interest for leasing, managing, and operating the Kigoto Maize Milling plant.
In the advert, the County Government of Homa Bay, through the Department of Trade, Industry, Tourism, Investments, Co-Operatives Development & Marketing had invited eligible bidders for the following tender.
“TENDER NUMBER – HBC/TITICDM/EOI/001/2024-2025 FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR LEASING, MANAGING AND OPERATING THE KIGOTO MAIZE MILLING PLANT should be deposited in the TENDER BOX situated at the entrance of New Governor’s office block not later than October 30, 2024, at 11:00 am EAT. Large documents that cannot fit in the tender box shall be registered at the office of the Director Procurement and Supplies Management located in the basement of the Governor’s new office block,” the Advert read in parts.
In a case filed by Ndiri Feeds against the County Government of Homa Bay before Chief Magistrate C. A. S Mutai certified the petition by Ndiri Feeds through its lawyer Mr. Maosa advocates as urgent.
“ The Application dated 28th October 2024, be and is hereby certified as urgent and that an order be and is hereby issued staying the proposed leasing, managing and operating of the defendant/ respondent plant herein as per the Tender Notice which closes on the 3oth October 2024 at 11.00 am pending hearing and determination of this application,” read the order in parts.
Chief Magistrate Mutai said the application be served for an inter-partes hearing on the 7tH of November 2024.
The Kigoto Maize Milling plant has been in the media for the wrong reasons and was temporarily closed by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) for failing to meet the standards.
Late last year, Kebs flagged the flour from the mill over the quality after samples that were tested on September 13, 2023, failed to meet the required standards.
A report from KBS to the county government read in parts “These are major non-compliance affecting the performance of the product, health, and safety of the consumers. You shall take correction and corrective measures immediately.”
The letter that was signed by Mr Benard Sindani Regional Manager for Kebs Lake Region ordered for immediate recall of the batch that was already dispatched to the market.
Kigoto Maize Mill is facing a hurdle from a contractor who is demanding Sh 6 million. Similarly, some farmers who had supplied maize to the plant were also not paid.
The contractor, Ndiri Feeds had accused the county government of failing to meet its side of the bargain and instead resorted to playing politics over payment.
The plant, which was officially opened by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been limping and has faced a myriad of problems that have paralyzed its operations.
Raila during the launch praised Governor Gladys Wanga for spearheading an economic agenda for the region through the project.
But the mill has failed to crush and the product christened Mokwa has failed to hit the shelves of the supermarkets and shops in the area and nationally.
