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The campaign to establish value-addition facilities for processing local minerals continues to gather momentum with the commencement of construction on a Sh 2.5 billion Granite Processing Plant in Emuhaya, Vihiga County.
Leading this significant development, Principal Secretary for Mining Elijah Mwangi, alongside Vihiga Governor Dr. Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo, officially handed over the site to Equip Kenya Limited, the project’s investor. The event saw attendance from notable figures including Deputy Governor H.E. Wilberforce Kitiezo, Vihiga County Woman Representative Hon. Beatrice Adagala, Members of County Assembly, and other senior national and county officials. Representatives from the senator’s and local MP’s offices were also present.
The establishment of the Vihiga Granite Processing Plant underscores the government’s commitment to value addition, which is poised to create job opportunities for local youth, utilize mineral processing professionals, promote local enterprises, and support community development.
Governor Ottichilo highlighted the project’s potential: “This plant signifies our dedication to boosting the local economy through strategic mineral processing investments. It will transform the socio-economic landscape of Vihiga County.”
Set to be operational by July 2025, the plant will process granite sourced from a 250 square kilometer area, containing trillions of tons of raw material according to preliminary geological data. This facility is the third major value-addition project launched by the government in just two months, following the establishment of a Sh 5.8 billion gold refinery and a Sh 4.8 billion fluorspar processing plant in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Further plans are in progress for an Sh 11 billion iron ore processing facility in Taita Taveta County, a soapstone processing center in Kisii County, and a copper processing plant in Kitui County.
Granite, a critical mineral in the construction industry, is used for kitchen countertops, tiles, terrazzo, mantlepieces, monuments, and construction of roads and buildings. The Vihiga plant is expected to create over 500 direct jobs and thousands more indirectly. Once it reaches optimal production capacity, it will not only meet local demand but also supply markets in East and Central Africa, significantly reducing the need for costly imports.
The Vihiga County leadership pledged their full support for the plant, predicting it would transform the socio-economic lives of thousands of residents in the region.
“This plant will save the country billions of shillings annually by reducing our dependency on imported granite products,” said PS Mwangi. “We are committed to ensuring the success of this and future mineral processing initiatives across Kenya.”
As construction begins, the project stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of the national and county governments, along with private investors, in driving forward the agenda of value addition and economic empowerment in the mineral processing sector
