Cotton farmers in Lamu county are set for improved prices and a reliable market, following construction of a new ginnery in Mpeketoni, raising fresh hopes for revival of the crop.
The ginnery, currently at 95 per cent completion, is being constructed through a partnership involving the national government, a private investor, Thika Cloth Mills (TCM) and the Lamu county government and forms part of a wider effort to revitalise Kenya’s cotton value chain.
According to the project contractor, Duncan Mungai, construction works are in their final stages, with installation of modern ginning machinery scheduled to begin next month.
Once operational, the facility is expected to create hundreds of jobs, most of them targeting local youth, while offering farmers a guaranteed market closer home and reducing transport and post-harvest costs.
Cotton Development Officer at Thika Cloth Mills, Hesmond Olweny, said the Mpeketoni ginnery will address long-standing logistical and security challenges that have forced farmers to transport cotton to distant counties such as Meru, Makueni and Kitui.
“The new ginnery will eliminate these challenges by providing a stable and reliable market within the region, improving efficiency and returns for farmers,” Olweny said.
The project has also sparked renewed interest in cotton farming among young people, reversing years of decline in the sector.
Chairman of the Lamu Farmers Cooperative Society, Migwi Mwangi, said the deliberate inclusion of the youth will spur cotton farming in the region.
He noted that cotton prices have increased from Sh52 to Sh72 per kilogram, making cotton farming more attractive and profitable.
“Parents are now confident while handing over land to their children. With the energy, innovation and commitment of the youth, cotton farming has picked up very fast. It is performing better than other crops in the region,” Mwangi said.
Youth leader and cotton farmer Jennifer Wambui said the ginnery has given young people renewed purpose, with many embracing cotton farming and related agribusiness.
“This project has given us hope. Cotton is no longer seen as a crop of the past but as a viable economic activity. Youth are no longer engaging in crime or drugs but investing a lot in the cotton farms,” she said.
Currently, Lamu County has four active cooperative societies with more than 10,000 cotton farmers.
Stakeholders say the new ginnery will further boost production, attract more investments and uplift livelihoods across the county.
By Muoki Charles
