Turkana County Government has renewed its commitment to revive tannery sector by reviving the defunct Naurenpuu tannery to tap into its economics potential for job creation and industrial development.
Speaking at a stakeholder meeting, County Executive for Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Fisheries, James Wangiros, outlined a comprehensive plan to operationalise the Naurienpuu tannery.
The initiative aims to revive and upgrade the defunct Naurienpuu tannery through improvement and installation of infrastructure aimed at modernising tanning operations.
Wangiros emphasised the importance of upgrading tannery infrastructure and adopting advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and product quality.
“Revitalising the Naurienpuu tannery is crucial for strengthening our leather industry and expanding our market,” he stated.
In addition to the tannery revitalisation, the County Executive highlighted plans to revive and upgrade the Lomidat abattoir and the Kalokol fish factory, key initiatives in achieving food security.
The revitalisation efforts will focus on identifying gaps in the sector, establishing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the County Government and the County Livestock Marketing Council (CLMC), and fostering collaboration among government agencies, industry stakeholders, and the community and addressing land challenges to drive the full operationalisation of the tannery.
County Executive for Trade, Roseline Aite, stressed the need for a benchmarking tour by the technical team to study best practices from established tanneries across the country.
“This benchmarking exercise will not only serve as a learning opportunity but will also help in adopting modern technologies to strengthen the Naurienpuu tannery operations,” she noted.
She urged stakeholders including private investors and partners to support the growth and development of the tannery industry.
Director of Legal Services, Ekai Nabenyo, provided guidance on the formulation of the MoU, ensuring legal compliance and strategic alignment.
Also present at the meeting were Directors Benson Longor (Veterinary Services), Bobby Ekadon (Livestock Production), and Dorcas Ejore (Administration) among others.
By Peter Gitonga