Vihiga residents raise concerns over stalled granite factory

Frustration is growing among residents of Vihiga County over the stalled construction of a long-promised granite factory that was expected to transform the region’s rocky landscape into an economic powerhouse.

Vihiga, famously dotted with massive rock outcrops, has nearly a third of its land covered in stone.

Hopes were high in 2018 when Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo announced that the county had acquired a 10-acre parcel of land at Buyangu in Luanda Sub-County for the factory.

The ambitious project, launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, was intended to process stone into cement, tiles, terrazzo, and other products for both local and export markets.

It was scheduled for completion by June 2019, but the government was not able to fund the project.

An investor was luckily found in 2024, and the project was scheduled to take only 12 months for completion and processing of the stones to begin.

However, progress has stalled, reportedly due to the failure of the investor contracted to execute the Sh2.5 billion project.

No tangible development has occurred at the site since July 2024, when construction was expected to begin following the awarding of the contract to a foreign investor.

This has shattered the dreams of many residents who had hoped to benefit economically by putting the rocks on their land to productive use.

It is common to see locals farming between boulders or herding livestock across rocky fields in search of pasture.

For Reagan Sagala, 75, a resident of Mahanga village, land has become increasingly scarce. Passed down from his father, the once sizeable family farm has been subdivided among his four sons—who have further divided it among their children—leaving the family crowded on a much smaller piece.

Nearly two acres of his remaining land are covered in rocks.

Like thousands of residents, Sagala was initially optimistic when both national and county governments announced plans for the granite factory—a project that promised to turn the region’s rocky terrain into economic gold.

But more than seven years later, that hope has faded, with many now dismissing the project as a political gimmick recycled during campaign seasons.

“Although Vihiga is small in size, it sits on immense resources that can transform lives if fully utilized. We hoped the factory was the answer to this,” Sagala said.

In villages like Gimwenge, many residents—especially women—survive by manually crushing stones into gravel and ballast.

It is a backbreaking job, but for many, it’s the only source of income.

“Stone crushing is tough, but it’s how we survive,” said Phanice Ambeva, one of the workers.

They earn Sh200 per wheelbarrow of gravel, Sh1,500 for a pickup truck, and Sh3,500 for a lorry. But middlemen resell the same at prices as high as Sh7,000 for pickups and up to Sh14,000 for lorries.

Residents had hoped the factory would eliminate such exploitation and help them earn a decent living from the rocky terrain.

In an earlier interview, Governor Ottichilo estimated that the factory would unlock the economic potential of the county’s rock resources and create employment for the youth.

“Experts have confirmed that 30 percent of Vihiga’s land is covered in rocks, making it ideal for granite processing,” the governor said, adding that the factory would also source stones from Bungoma and Siaya counties to sustain its operations.

However, the project suffered a major blow after the foreign investor granted mining rights in 2024 failed to demonstrate the capacity to fund and execute the work.

The government, however, promises to source another capable investor.

“Value addition is key to empowering our local economies and creating jobs. I pledge to replace the investor and expedite the project,” said Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho during a visit to the county recently.

Meanwhile, the project has also faced resistance from sections of the local community, with some residents accusing the county government of encroaching on their land without adequate consultation.

Others have raised concerns about the environmental and health risks associated with granite processing. Environmental activists have questioned the credibility of the environmental impact assessment (EIA), suggesting it may have been influenced by vested interests.

“The project has not had enough public participation, which is why some residents feel excluded and have turned against it,” said Stephen Chahasi, a local activist.