The NZoia Sugar Managing Director Mr. Saul Wasilwa receiving the ISO Certificate from the KBS officer. [PHOTO | Protus Simiyu | West Fm]

Nzoia Sugar Company will close town for the planned annual maintenance for six weeks as from 30th August at a cost of Sh100 Million.

The Managing Director of the plant Mr. Saul Wasilwa said key areas to be overhauled and refurbished will include: mill rollers, boiler 3, the turbine and centrifugals and that the factory will resume trials on 15th of October, 2012.

Mr. Wasilwa assured its customers that the closure will not affect the price of sugar as it was experienced last year insisting that they have enough sugar in store.

The MD disclosed that the Company recorded the highest number of metric tonnes during the last financial year 2012/12 since inception in 1978.

He said they were able to mill 690,997 metric tonnes and bagged 64,669 tonnes of sugar in the last financial year compared to 652,170 metric tonnes during the financial year 2010/11 where 61,886 tonnes of sugar was bagged.

“This translates to an increase of 38,827 metric tonnes of cane milled,” Wasilwa said.

The Nzoia Company MD pointed out that they are targeting milling 700,000 metric tonnes of cane during the financial year 2012/13 while adding that the average cane milled in the last five years is 661, 218 metric tonnes.

ISO Re-Certification

Wasilwa said Nzoia Sugar Company is now re-certified to ISO 9002:2008 for another three year cycle from 30th June 2012 to 29th June 2015.

“The Company applied for re-certification after expiry of the first cycle certification awarded in 2008 by the Kenya Bureau of Standards KEBS,” he said.

 He insisted that comprehensive audits were carried out on 14th -16thth April 2012 by KEBS within the Company hence resulting to thee recertification.

Further, Wasilwa said the company has undergone 7 internal Quality Audits and 5 Surveillance Quality Audits to enhance conformance to QMS and ISO 900:2008 standards.

“This milestone is attributed top management commitment, staff support and QMR’S guidance,” he said.

He said the move is an assurance to its stakeholders and consumers in terms of product and service satisfaction.

Corporate social responsibility

The MD said the company has invested heavily in CRS covering from various core activities that enable the company to give back to the community in terms of education, infrastructure, health, youth development and sports among others.

Mr. Wasilwa noted that the company is currently involved in building of Kakimayi Dispensary at a cost of Sh 3.4 Million and the renovation of Khaweli Primary School at a cost of Sh 1.5 M.

Company corporate Day

Mr. Wasilwa said during the concluded financial year 2011/12, the company succefullly held the first corporate day, which was an open day where company customers, clients and stakeholders were enabled to interact with company staff to learn about company operations.

Customers benefit by way of having their issues and concerns addressed by management. On the other hand the company is able to get feedback on its products, services and hence provide a chance for improvement,” Wasilwa affirmed.