Kindiki: Eight county industrial parks set for commissioning by year-end
Kindiki said the industrial parks would form a foundation for manufacturing ambitions by enabling counties to aggregate produce and promote value addition.
NAIROBI, Kenya - Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced that eight county industrial parks are on track to be completed and commissioned before the end of the year. These parks aim to serve as a foundation for Kenya's manufacturing ambitions by allowing counties to aggregate produce, promote value addition, and support small-scale industries.
Speaking at a meeting chaired by Kindiki, Industry, Trade, and Investment Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, alongside governors and officials from relevant agencies, reviewed the progress of the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) program. Kindiki highlighted that the eight parks, located in Embu, Meru, Wajir, Garissa, Kirinyaga, Busia, Kisii, and Migori counties, are crucial steps towards industrialization, as countries like South Korea, Malaysia, and China grew through value addition and cottage industries.
The national government is collaborating with county administrations to address any outstanding issues and ensure the parks are completed and equipped. A centralized equipment procurement program has been established to support the counties in equipping their CAIPs, and guidelines have been prepared to govern the operation of the industrial parks.
The Ministry is also conducting technical assessments to ensure the parks meet the necessary standards. Additionally, the government will expedite the provision of common-user infrastructure, such as water, electricity, access roads, and waste management systems. Kindiki urged county governments to leverage the industrial parks as platforms for tapping into international markets, given Kenya's trade agreements that provide opportunities for local manufacturers and producers, some of which are quota-free and tariff-free.
He emphasized the importance of identifying export potential products and using the CAIPs to increase value addition and competitiveness. The Deputy President called on all counties to prioritize the operationalization of their CAIPs to improve Kenya's competitiveness and contribute to the nation's economic growth.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
