Directors of Eldoret plant to meet State officials

• Corn Products International (CPC) directors will meet farmers and government representatives next week to address the market gap caused by the closure.
• The firm used to make glucose and other products from maize and would buy up to 2,000 bags of maize a day.
• Documents seen by the Business Daily indicate that the firm plans to relocate to a different country.
• Higher Education minister Margaret Kamar said she was speaking with CPC directors in Canada and South Africa to help revive the company and secure hundreds of jobs.

Directors of a multinational company that closed down last month in Eldoret have agreed to meet government officials and local farmers.

Corn Products International (CPC) directors will meet farmers and government representatives next week to address the market gap caused by the closure. Farmers complain that the closure had exposed them to exploitation by cartels.

The firm used to make glucose and other products from maize and would buy up to 2,000 bags of maize a day.

Documents seen by the Business Daily indicate that the firm plans to relocate to a different country.

“CPC has been encountering continuous and increasing disadvantage over the years. As a result, we have decided to disengage from production operations in Kenya,”

Higher Education minister Margaret Kamar said she was speaking with CPC directors in Canada and South Africa to help revive the company and secure hundreds of jobs.

The minister also proposed that farmers buy shares in the company and manage it as their business. The Kenya Farmers Association backed the proposal. “We agree with the minister that farmers should be allowed to buy shares,” said Kipkorir Menjo, a director with KFA.