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Elgeyo Marakwet County residents are the biggest beneficiaries of President William Ruto’s just concluded tour of the North Rift. The locals received a lot of development goodies, notably the planned reopening of the stalled Fluorspar Mining company in Kimwarer area of Keiyo South constituency.

The mining Company which used to employ more than 10,000 people wound up its activities four years ago after market conditions led to a dramatic reduction in Fluorspar prices and demand rendering many company operations unsustainable in the current market.

President Ruto who concluded his tour of his backyard on Sunday by attending a church service in Iten announced that a new investor has already accepted to reopen the multi-billion factor by pumping Sh4.4 billion.

“The new investor will soon roll out operations. What is only remaining is the conclusion of signing an agreement with the county government,” said the President.

Pave way

He however urged residents who were displaced to pave the way for the setting up of the project to remain patient as the issue is being sorted out.

The residents have been demanding that they get paid at least Sh4 million for an acre of land owing to huge losses they incurred during the setting up of the mining company.

The residents have also demanded that thousands of workers affected by the company’s closure be considered for employment should a new investor take over the management of the factory which has been closed down.

During his tour of the County, the Head of State also commissioned out an 80 bed ultra-modern Mother and Baby Unit in Iten County Referral Hospital.

Other projects and programs announced by the President to be initiated in the County include the establishment of a military training camp in Kerio Valley beside the ongoing shifting of security personnel to the banks of River Kerio to tame bandits. “A massive disarmament exercise will soon be rolled out in the region to mop up all illegal firearms in the hands of civilians. No civilian will be allowed to own firearms,” said President Ruto.

To ensure efficient coordination of security matters in the banditry prone region, the President announced the establishment of Kerio Valley and Kolowa Sub-Counties in the next 90 days.

Food production

He said the construction of the controversial Arror and Kimwarer dams which were stopped when they were hit by corruption claims will soon resume which he noted will boost food production in Kerio Valley through irrigated agriculture.

Both Arror and Kimwarer multi-purpose dams would have cost a total of Sh63 billion.

The Arror dam in Marakwet East was set to cost Sh38.5 billion while Kimwarer dam in Keiyo South was to cost Sh28 billion.

The Italian firm, CMC di Ravenna won tenders to build mega dams in the Rift Valley worth more than Sh90 billion was to undertake the two projects.

Traders in Iten also have a reason to smile after the President announced the establishment of a Sh400 modern market in Iten.