Kenya: It was reported on 25 January 2012 that operations at the East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) were likely to resume on 26 January 2012 after the parties involved in the dispute 'ironed out their differences.' Some local reports are suggesting that many workers will stay away from the plant if it opens over an ongoing dispute with the management. EAPCC Chairman Mark ole Karbolo said, "A solution has been found," and that the board was meeting all stakeholders to agree on a return-to-work formula.
"It is the intention of the board that the company resumes operations immediately," said Karbolo. "The underlying issues that were raised will be addressed following the right procedure and also using the board processes."
The cement plant was shut down on 16 January 2012 when its staff blocked Managing Director Kephar Tande and board members who had just been reinstated by the court at the premises. The workers were demanding that a new board be constituted before they can agree to go back to work. They cited their lack of confidence in the board. One man was shot in the dispute.
The closure has prevented the normal production of around 30,000t of cement and an associated loss of about US$3.5m has been incurred. Despite the millions of dollars in losses, Karbolo is confident that the firm would be able to recoup its losses in coming days."It is possible. We will maximise our operations and our efficiencies and we should be able to recover," he emphasised.
Even if it is possible to safely return to normal operation in the coming days the concerns that have been brought to the fore by the infighting surrounding the shareholding structure will have to be addressed.
It remains unclear whether the 27% stake held by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) should be treated as belonging to the government or if it should be considered as a separate entity. While the board members have maintained that the two main owners, namely the government and the NSSF, should be looked at as different shareholders, Industrialisation Permanent Secretary Karanja Kibicho, maintained that the government and the NSSF are one entity.
"As far as the government is concerned, its shareholding at EAPCC remains just like it was 10 years ago. Our shareholding in that firm is 52.3%," Kibicho maintained. Lafarge owns 41.7% and the public owns 6% of EAPCC.
