The once-promising Sh2.5 billion granite factory in Vihiga county has ground to a halt, leaving residents frustrated.
Touted as a game-changer that would transform the county’s rocky terrain into tiles, cement and other lucrative products, the project was expected to reclaim land for farming and create jobs. Instead, the site at Buyangu in Luanda constituency remains largely idle.
The idea was floated before the 2017 elections and officially announced by Governor Wilber Ottichilo in 2018, with completion slated for 2019.
Backed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, the county provided 10 acres of land while an investor would fund construction and operations.
In July 2024, a contractor was identified and given 12 months to deliver — but little progress has been made.
For residents, the delay has real consequences. With rocks still littering their farms, many—especially women— resort to backbreaking manual crushing of ballast and selling for as little as Sh200 per wheelbarrow. Middlemen reap the bigger profits, reselling the same loads for up to Sh14,000.
“Stone crushing is a tough job, but we have no other option,” said Phanice Ambeva, a local worker.
Hopes dimmed further when the investor withdrew, reportedly after residents went to court over inadequate involvement and raised concerns about environmental and health risks.
Environmental activists have also questioned the credibility of the project’s impact assessment.
County director of communication Frank Matika said public participation was carried out over three years but the community misunderstood the project’s funding model.
“They thought outsiders would benefit more and didn’t realise the county was only providing land, not funding,” he said.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Mining is now seeking another investor. Governor Ottichilo maintains the factory could unlock the county’s vast granite potential— experts estimate rocks cover 30 per cent of Vihiga’s land—and even source raw materials from Bungoma and Siaya.
For now, the factory remains a promise on paper, and for many residents, another example of big dreams lost in political and bureaucratic rubble.
Instant analysis
The stalled Sh2.5 billion granite factory in Vihiga highlights the gap between ambitious political promises and on-ground realities. Conceived as a game-changer to turn rocky terrain into economic opportunity, the project promised jobs, land reclamation and industrial growth. Instead, delays, investor withdrawal, and community mistrust—fuelled by environmental concerns and poor understanding of funding—have left residents stuck in back-breaking stone-crushing work for meagre pay. The situation reflects broader challenges in public-private partnerships where community buy-in, transparent communication, and credible environmental safeguards are essential. Until these issues are resolved, Vihiga’s granite wealth remains an untapped symbol of unfulfilled potential.
