This is due to the construction of a new fertiliser plant in Kakamega County, which will also create over 1,000 jobs in and around the region.
The County Government of Kakamega and the US government have agreed to build the multibillion-dollar plant, with Regen Organics serving as the implementing business.
Kakamega County Governor Fernandes Barasa commissioned the facility’s construction in the Matawa district of Mumias West Constituency in May.
Regen Organics will build and outfit the organic fertilizer plan for 18 months at a cost of Ksh1.2 billion.
The project was made feasible by a collaboration between the US government and the County Government of Kakamega. Residents of 14 counties would be served by the plant: Kakamega, Vihiga, Kisumu, Bungoma, Nyamira, Kisii, Homa Bay, Migori, Bomet, Busia, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Siaya, and Kericho.
“Kakamega is one of only eight counties identified by USAID as being the best prepared for these investments, and this plant is the second in Kenya,” Barasa said.
The agreement between Kakamega County and Regen Organics, according to US Ambassador to Kenya Margaret Whitman, is an example of a successful public-private cooperation.
Whitman praised the decision to build the fertilizer facility, saying it will boost food production in the region. “This project will significantly contribute to economic growth while also providing valuable agricultural input such as fertilizer and animal input,” Whitman added.
According to Barasa, trash creation is expanding at an alarming rate due to rapid urbanization. “Kakamega and Mumias towns alone generate upwards of 2,400 tonnes of waste per day,” according to Barasa.
This despite the county’s capacity to collect around 1200 tonnes of solid waste every day. More specifics suggest that the plant will convert organic waste, such as food waste, fodder, sludge, agricultural waste, and fishery leftovers, into animal feed and fertilizer.
The factory will be able to process 36,000 tonnes of organic garbage gathered from Kakamega County and its surrounding areas.
Once operational, it is expected that the trash will be turned into up to 7,000 tonnes of organic fertilizer each year. This approach will help protect households from the consequences of pollution by putting garbage to greater use.
According to Regen Organics Managing Director Michael Lwoyelo, the project will assist enhance harvests while also mitigating the consequences of climate change. “Regen Organics collects organic waste and converts it into valuable agricultural inputs for productive farming,” explained Lwoyelo.
He stated that this comprises organic fertilizer for horticulture and staple crops, insect protein for animal feeds, and green energy for machinery.
Governor Wilber Ottichilo of Vihiga County praised the County and US partnership for implementing an environmentally sustainable project. He claims that the fertilizers will boost farmer output in 14 counties.
“As the Council of Governors, we are going to support this noble initiative because waste management is our biggest problem, especially in urban areas,” Ottichilo stated.
Ottichilo, who is also the chair of the council of governors’ environment committee, stated that the persistent use of inorganic fertilizer has caused soil acidification. This, he claims, has resulted in a decrease in food output, necessitating the use of organic fertilizer plants in other locations.
“We must ensure that all methane produced by our waste is not released into the atmosphere, but rather processed into organic fertilizer to improve agricultural production,” he stated.
Regen Organics, a founding partner of Sanergy Collaborative, takes pride in carefully extracting organic waste from cities and their surroundings and transforming it into valuable products. Furthermore, the company processes 60,000 tonnes of garbage every year and produces 8,500 tonnes of organic fertilizer using solar power and renewable fuels.
