Boost to cotton industry: TCM’s Lamu ginnery to fill gap for coast farmers

By Pauline Kairu

The cotton industry in Kenya is set for a major stimulation. A new ginnery is coming up in Mpeketoni, Lamu County, following a ground-breaking ceremony on April 30. The facility, a baby of textile and apparel company Thika Cloth Mills (TCM), is expected to inspire increased interest in cotton production in the coastal region and trigger a value chain that will create jobs and improve farmer incomes.

In partnership with the Lamu County Government, the national government, and international development partners, TCM laid the foundation stone for the facility on April 30 in a high-profile event officiated by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Investments, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui; Lamu Governor Issa Timamy; and representatives from the international development partners involved.

Also present were dignitaries from a number of government entities and the private sector, including Principal Secretaries, cooperative leaders, and executives from TCM and its partners.

“This ginnery is a symbol of the economic empowerment we are working hard to deliver to the people of Lamu,” said Governor Timamy. “Our administration has worked tirelessly to secure land, provide infrastructure, and mobilise farmers. We are committed to creating an investment-friendly environment that drives inclusive growth.”

The Lamu ginnery will serve over 15,000 cotton farmers in the region, drastically cutting transportation costs by eliminating the need to ferry raw cotton to distant ginneries in Meru, Kitui, or Makueni.

The investment makes economic sense. Lamu’s cotton production has recently expanded from 800 bales in 2020 to over 3,000 bales in 2024, an indicator of the county’s cotton growing potential. With nearly 10,000 farmers now cultivating cotton on 19,000 acres, the ginnery project is timely.

CS Lee Kinyanjui hailed the ginnery initiative as a landmark achievement in Kenya’s drive for industrialisation and rural transformation. “This ginnery project by Thika Cloth Mills is a milestone towards economic empowerment,” Kinyanjui said. “It will enhance cotton uptake, improve farmer earnings, and ensure a steady supply of raw materials for our textile industry.”

The CS also reiterated the government’s commitment to the “Buy Kenya, Build Kenya” initiative. 

He urged schools, hospitals, and corporates to prioritise locally made fabrics, adding that the government had already set an example through its directive that all disciplined forces use uniforms made from Kenyan cotton.

“Let Kenyans wear locally made attire even on non-working days,” he added, challenging the fashion industry to drive innovation using home-grown materials.

Principal Secretaries (PS) from the state departments of investment, industry, co-operatives, and agriculture, were also recognised for their role in championing the cotton value chain.

PS for Industry, Dr Juma Mukhwana, encouraged cotton farmers to organise themselves through cooperatives to unlock better value.

PS Abubakar Hassan of the State Department for Investment was recognised for supporting early seed distribution efforts in Lamu, with the Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) subsequently mobilising Ksh250 million in funding to expedite the ginnery’s construction.

“Better pricing and improved sustainability initiatives will motivate farmers to grow cotton in abundance,” said TCM Managing Director, Tejal Dodhia.

A crucial development partner in the project, the UK Government’s Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) Programme, granted approximately Ksh80 million (£500,000) to de-risk the investment.

“We thank SUED for making this project possible,” said the Ms Dodhia. “Their support will allow Kenyan cotton to be processed locally, ensuring traceability from seed to garment, improving sustainability, and opening up opportunities in global markets.”

The grant will support the construction of the ginnery, which will also produce by-products such as animal feed and cottonseed oil, further boosting economic activity in the region.

Farmers have been at the centre of the ginnery initiative, and their numbers have grown steadily, thanks to strategic government interventions. To increase access to quality seeds, President William Ruto facilitated the importation of 80,000kg of BT cotton seeds from Cameroon. The seeds are expected to significantly boost yields, with Cameroon itself exporting over 200,000 bales annually.

“Without farmers, this project would not exist,” noted Governor Timamy. “Their resilience and commitment to cotton farming have laid the foundation for everything we see today.”

Since last year, TCM has sourced all its locally, particularly from Lamu, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Baringo, Siaya, Busia, Bungoma, and Homa Bay, reinforcing its focus on local value chains.

With construction now underway, the Lamu ginnery is expected to be a game-changer for cotton farmers and the textile industry players in the Coastal region in particular. The project exemplifies how public-private partnerships, strategic investment, and international collaboration can work together to spur rural industrialisation.

“Let’s believe in ourselves and in our country,” said the TCM MD. “This is not just a ginnery, it’s a gateway to greater prosperity for thousands of families.”