Over 200 employees at Midlands Food Processing Company in Njabini, Nyandarua County were left unemployed after the company closed without notice on Monday.
Workers found the gates locked when they reported for work on Monday and raised their eyebrows at not being notified of a planned closure.
“We reported that we were only working to find the gates, which were locked with chains and large padlocks. So far, we don’t know what’s going on, ”said an associate who sought anonymity, as quoted by The Standard.
A shareholder, Mr George Muchiri, who spoke to the daily, said the company was facing financial bottlenecks that forced management to close.
Read: Hope for Nakuru Potato Farmers to Build 117 Million Ksh Camp in the County
“They found it advisable to close it first in order to find a solution to the financial crisis the company is facing. You will then inform us about the next step later, ”said Muchiri.
The company produces vacuum-packed potatoes for use as french fries, bhajias / slices, peeled potatoes and potato wedges.
The company was founded in April 2013 with Junghae Wainaina as chairman.
Originally it belonged to 300 farmers who expected to earn Ksh 200 million each season.
The National Potato Council of Kenya reports that potatoes are the second most important food and cash crop in Kenya after corn.
The harvest is grown by around 800,000 smallholders, employs around 2.7 million players along the marketing channels and contributes over 50 billion Ksh to the Kenyan economy.
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