The Government of Kenya through NIB has made investments in Mwea Rice Mills Ltd (55%) and Western Kenya Rice Mills Ltd (60%).
 
Mwea Rice Mills Ltd. (MRM) is a limited liability company owned by National Irrigation Board (55%) and the Mwea farmers through the Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Co-operative Society Limited (45%).

The major activity of MRM Ltd is the milling and storage of paddy from the Mwea Irrigation Scheme. The company has four milling units with an installed capacity if 15 tonnes per hour which is sufficient to handle the entire paddy produced in Mwea Irrigation Settlement and adjoining Regions. The company also boasts of long experience in processing and marketing of rice by-products.

The company’s major client is National Cereals and Produce Board. As a way of positioning itself in readiness for privatisation the company has venture in purchasing of paddy from farmers, milling and marketing to two major supermarkets chains i.e. Uchumi and Tusker Mattress.   

The Western Kenya Rice Mills (WKRM) Ltd is a limited liability company owned by National Irrigation Board (60%) and the farmers in Ahero, Bunyala and West Kano through their respective Co-operative Societies (40%).

Just like MRM Ltd, the major activity of WKRM Ltd is the milling and storage of paddy from the Ahero, Bunyala and West Kano Schemes. The company has one milling unit with an installed capacity if 3.5 tonnes per hour which is sufficient to handle the entire paddy produced in the three schemes and adjoining Regions.

The Company has a storage capacity of handling 80,000 bags of paddy. Efforts are being made to venture in purchasing of paddy from farmers, milling and marketing. This is geared towards making the company a viable entity.

The two companies are part of the various slated for privatisation Governmen. The Ministry of Finance Investment Department is already handling the issue, and National Irrigation Board expects a progress report.