British High Commission to Kenya Ambassador Neil Wigan together with his host Lamu Governor Issa Timamy EGH, OGW have today announced the commencement of the construction of a cashew nut processing factory in Hindi. This will be the first factory to be set up in Lamu County.

The plant will be constructed by Equitorial Nuts, a private investor, and is expected to be completed this year.

Speaking during the official ground break exercise, Ambassador Wigan congratulated Governor Timamy for his commitment towards adopting devising measures that encourage creation of added value in the cashewnut sector and by encouraging the private sector to invest in Lamu.

Ambassador Wigan also noted that the British Government through SUED (Sustainable Urban Economic Development) would continue partnering with Lamu towards opening up more opportunities with an aim of attracting investment for critical infrastructure and value chain projects.

Lamu Governor Issa Timamy noted that the project would greatly solve the unemployment issue and further urged the investor to prioritise locals during employment and told locals to take advantage of available opportunities and run with them.

“My Administration will continue wooing investors to the county by giving them incentives to invest in Lamu. Besides the cashewnut plant, my administration has recently signed a deal for the construction of a cotton ginery in Bahari ward that will significantly unlock the economic potential of Lamu county” said the Governor.

The Governor also promised the investor that he would not run short of raw material since Lamu accounts for 40% of cashewnuts and this year the county will give 16,000 cashewnut hybrid seeds to farmers which will in turn boost cashewnut production.

Equatorial Nut Processors Limited Chairman Dr. Peter K. Munga, EGH thanked Governor Timamy for giving him an opportunity to invest in Lamu and he commited to employ atleast 1,000 locals.

He further noted that Equitorial Nuts has been buying cashewnut from Lamu for over two decades and their physical establishment in Lamu will be a game changer towards economic empowerment within the county and the coastal strip.

In attendance was Lamu Deputy Governor Raphael Munyua, Amb. Ali Abbas, CECMs, Lamu Municipality Chairman Abdalla Fadhil, Chief Officers, CoS Mr. Abdulnasir Issa, Acting County Commissioners, SUED and UK Embassy representatives, cashewnut farmers among others.

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For more information contact:

Lamu County Government Communications Office at communication@lamu.go.ke