Simba Cement has been given a green light to restart the Rabai plant, which signals a change of tide after a three-month suspension due to community unrest. Simba is a crucial facility in Kenya’s cement production sector.
The woworkers’trike resulted in the shutdown of the facility, which was accompanied by protests. Residents accused the company of ignoring the corporate social responsibility aspect of its activities.
Some of the accusations included improper local employment, lack of community projects, and poor communication channels between the company and residents.
Rabai Deputy County Commissioner Joseph Lenkarie, who had been discussing the mad issues of the day, made the call for the offenders to be forgiven and the closure to be lifted. “The clearance is the result of in-depth consultations with all the parties involved,” Lenkarie said.
He advised Simba Cement to allocate funds from corporate social responsibility to infrastructure and social programs in the area. Alongside this, he called for the residents of Rabai to keep peaceful and avoid any disturbances that could interrupt the work.
“Not only we must all strive to live in peace but also we as the public must form a good relationship with the authorities. We must all work towards a harmonious coexistence that benefits everyone” he further stated.
Despite the official approval, not all community members agree. There are different locals who were outside the factory gates and they said that the company promises are empty even though it is reopening.
“They shut down for three months because of us, and now they are reopening without solving the problem,” informed one resident who did not want to be named, going on to say that despite the stoppage, issues of dust, water shortage, and compensation claims have been left unattended.
Simba Cement Planning Director took the media along the path leading to the various promises the company is making to regain the lost trust.
“We will do everything possible to employ the locals, and we have the intention of hiring more people from Rabai and the neighbouring areas,” he promised.
Moreover, the company promised to invest in new community projects that include renovating schools and acproviding cess to water, and to set up interaction forums that will cater for the flow of information between the company and the locals. We want to operate in a way that is sustainable and will have a positive impact on the community, he said.
The return to work is expected to bring back life to the local economy, Kilifi County will, therefore, be able to create and attract related businesses.
Industry analysts forecast that it will be a chance to supply cement to construction projects around the region, thus making it easier foto addresshe shortage