Diaspora University Town (DUT) team were part of an estimated 5,000 persons who attended the ground breaking of the KSh 11 billion Devki Iron Ore Pelletization Plant in Manga, Taita Taveta County. The groundbreaking was graced by H.E President William Ruto, Governor Andrew Mwadime of Taita Taveta, other dignitaries and residents of Taita Taveta. Welcoming the plant to Taita Taveta, Barnabas Mwandembo of DUT design-build said that the steel for Diaspora University Town (DUT) will come from Devki as iron ore of Taita Taveta County is processed.
Industrialist & Entrepreneur Mr. Narendra Raval, the chairman of the Devki Group, spoke about this industry that will be along Mombasa – Nairobi highway and said the industry will create 3,000 jobs. He further stated that Devki Group directly employs over 14,000 Kenyans across the Country. He added that the Company plans to continue creating more jobs and targets to reach 30,000 employees by 2030. His autobiography title is, "Guru: A Long Walk To Success."
Dan Kamau the DUT Project Director was excited that this plant is opening in Taita Taveta County and is about 40 km from Diaspora University Town (DUT) site. After discussion with other DUT professionals attending the event, the DUT team agreed that the DUT budget for steel and other iron products that is estimated at about Ksh 1 billion in the Ksh 38 billion design-build budget can be applied toward Devki products.
Ronald Mwangombe of Ndara B Community who is spearheading the building materials supply was happy to hear the statements of President Ruto, Governor Mwadime, Mining C.S Hassan Joho and others supporting development. He liked the statement of the President when he said, "We are determined to make Kenya a global player in industrial production, and facilities like this are a step in the right direction."
Ronald plans to engage the Governor and area MP Hamisi Chome so Ndara B Community who have already started the 4,000 acres to have 30 industries and farming MSMEs that will support the Diaspora University Town (DUT) development and supply Kenya with building materials and food products.
Raphael Ngao, the Chairman of Ndara B Community, which is about 30 km south of Voi town, was happy for Taita Tevata County. He welcomed the message from the President that people should not oppose development and especially where that development involves the creation of jobs.
The DUT team, Ndara B Community Chairman and members who attended the ground break also took a moment to plan the ground breaking of their 1,500 acres Diaspora University Town and 4,000 Ndara B industries and farming projects. The team agreed that once the Kenya banks understand how they can finance the DUT and Ndara B properties, MSMEs and workers they shall hold a ground break. They agreed that they shall reach out to Governor Mwadime to invite the President to ground break the first project in Kenya started by Diaspora Kenyans and a Community that will make 5,500 acres productive to create 20,000 jobs in Taita Taveta.
