Kenya Breweries Limited’s (KBL) Managing Director, Mr Mark Ocitti, and Acting Managing Director Lake Basin Development Authority, Mr Wycliffe Ochiaga, have commissioned a water project at Ujimbe in Gem, Siaya County.
The Ujimbe water project is part of the Kshs. 30 million investments by KBL to develop water and sanitation projects in the Lake Basin counties of Homa Bay, Siaya, Kisumu, and Kakamega. The investments will benefit close to 100,000 people in the region.
So far, KBL has completed several projects in the region, including Ndhiwa, Magunga, and Okiki Amayo in Homa Bay; Ujimbe in Siaya; Lukume in Kakamega and Olembo in Kisumu County. The projects are being implemented in partnership with the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA), Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), and Amref Health Africa in Kenya.
Speaking during the event, KBL MD Mark Ocitti stated:
“We take pride to have established such a strategic and mutually-beneficial partnership with the Lake Basin Development Authority over the years. Kenya Breweries Limited sources over 80% of its sorghum from the Lake Basin region, and these water and sanitation projects are one way of creating shared value and growing with our communities here.”“We recognize that our farmers grapple with the effects of climate change, such as water scarcity and irregular rainfall. As such, we are committed to replenishing more water than we use in our breweries and training our farmers on regenerative agriculture,”
He added.
On the other hand, LBDA Acting MD Mr Wycliffe Ochiaga said:
“Our partnership with KBL goes back many years. We are proud to host its second manufacturing plant in Kisumu, which has greatly contributed to our people’s improved standards of living. The Kisumu brewery has created new job opportunities, contributed to the fight against illicit brews, and favourably positioned us to benefit from such community projects. The LBDA remains open for more collaborative efforts with KBL and other corporates and partners, intending to benefit our people.”
KBL first partnered with LBDA in 2018 and has organized several activities and events with their partnership over the years. Some of the activities include tree planting in Koguta Forest and a Clean Water Conference in Kisumu. KBL and LBDA celebrate this strategic and mutually-beneficial partnership to support communities with the greatest needs.
