Migori County: Migori County is set to experience a general environment cleanup following the establishment of a green hub by a private investor company, Women in Cold Chain, Agriculture and Renewable Energy (WICCARE) Africa Limited. The company aims to invest in a multi-pronged production of products tailored to protect the region’s environment and restore land fertility that has been compromised in recent years due to unsustainable farming practices.
According to Kenya News Agency, WICCARE is currently establishing a green hub worth over Sh60 million at Nyailing’a village, Suna West Sub County, within Migori. This hub will provide green and renewable energy to the local community and beyond. The company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Fidoh Kens Ochieng, described the investment as a pioneering social enterprise focused on transforming waste into energy while empowering female-led entrepreneurship.
The company plans to manufacture alternative cooking fuels, organic fertilizers, and other biomass products for green energy through its multi-million investments. “Energy is central to WICCARE’s mission to improve lives and protect the planet through sustainable energy solutions by specializing in providing high-quality, renewable, clean, and efficient energy alternatives,” said the CEO during a tour of the company field site where the factory construction is ongoing.
The factory is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year. In addition, WICCARE will provide safe drinking water to the community by drilling boreholes and establishing water kiosks in designated spots within the Nyailing’a Community. Ochieng mentioned plans to engage with the Migori County government to access organic waste from markets, which is a key ingredient in producing products like Biochar, Biomass Pellets, and Biomass Briquettes.
‘Our machines that will be installed by July this year will be able to produce three tonnes per hour of biomass briquettes and two tonnes per hour of biomass pellets,” explained the CEO. WICCARE has entered into business agreements with several sugar companies to supply millions of tonnes of bagasse for producing environmentally friendly products. The Lower-Kuja irrigation scheme in Nyatike will provide rice stalks to manufacture innovative biomass and fuel.
Biomass pellets, made from compressed organic materials like agricultural residues and sawdust, offer a clean-burning, renewable alternative to traditional fuels. Biomass briquettes, compressed blocks of biomass, serve as an efficient, sustainable, and eco-friendly fuel source. Ochieng disclosed plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Migori County on producing Biochar-organic fertilizer, valued for enhancing soil fertility and improving water retention.
WICCARE targets to empower 50,000 Migori women by educating them and providing them with the ‘Mimi Moto’ Cooking Stove, designed to burn biomass pellets efficiently. Women will access biomass pellets from WICCARE at a reduced price, benefiting from green energy savings of over 50% compared to charcoal, LPG, or firewood.
The company, which will be officially launched in July, has already employed 12 professionals and ten casual workers, with plans to hire at least 150 casuals from the county. The establishment has consumed Sh40 million for machinery, land, and construction equipment, with an additional Sh16-20 million needed for operations to start in July.
Isaack Bosire, an Environmental and Carbon Expert at WICCARE, noted that the firm is a green project with a focus on organic waste. The firm has conducted an environmental, social, and impact assessment report with public participation as a core element. On emissions, waste management, and noise pollution, Bosire stated that the firm complies with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) guidelines.
WICCARE will also transform the cold chain by providing energy-efficient solutions to fish farmers in Migori. This will support the storage and transportation of temperature-sensitive products like fish and horticulture, ensuring quality and reducing waste.
