Nairobi — The establishment of a cement factory in Pokot will help bring down cement prices and curb shortages of the commodity in the country, Prime minister Raila Odinga has said, adding that it will also help end cattle rustling by creating jobs for youth and women, and improve the economy of the district.

"There is a high demand for cement due to rapid growth of the construction and building sector and the establishment of another cement plant will help bring down cement prices and curb a shortage of cement in the country," he said.

The Prime minister was speaking in Sigor Constituency after he announced that the government had granted a mining license for the establishment of the Sh7 billion cement plant at Sebit village in Pokot Central district to an Indian investor, Sanghi-Cemtech.

He said the company, which intends to produce 1.2 million tonnes of cement annually beginning next year, had fulfilled all conditions given by the State and the local community, to set up a cement plant in the semi-arid district.

Feasibility studies

Mr Odinga said Ortum and Sebit areas had large deposits of limestone deposits that could last a cement factory for over 50 years according feasibility studies conducted by government geologists.

He criticised an unnamed senior public servant from the district for bragging that he would bring an investor to build a cement factory in the area, adding that no individual was capable of doing so, apart from the government and its development partners.

Regarding food security, the Prime minister said the Italian government had given Kenya a grant of Sh1 billion to expand Wei Wei irrigation scheme in Pokot Central to boost food production and incomes of the local residents.