A trailer loaded with sugarcane sits at Muhoroni Sugar Company's yard as overhead cranes handle cane deliveries at the factory. [File,Standard]
Muhoroni Sugar Company has completed a major overhaul of its ageing plant, ending years of breakdowns caused by a leaking roof that let rain fall directly onto machinery and workers.
The factory, leased to West Valley Sugar, a subsidiary of Kipchimchim Group, last year, has replaced its worn asbestos roofing, installed a new batch centrifugal machine and fixed structural damage that had forced a three-month closure.
Engineer Wilson Ochieng, head of manufacturing, said the plant, established in 1964, had deteriorated through poor maintenance before the takeover.
"Muhoroni is an old factory. It was installed and established in 1964. The operating capacity had deteriorated due to poor maintenance," said Ochieng.
"Workers were demoralised because of lack of payment of salaries and improper maintenance due to lack of adequate spares and funding."
Ochieng explained that rain pouring onto equipment and workers had disrupted operations and created a fire risk from electrical short-circuiting before repairs were made.