- The CS said the government would shortly release initial funding for the CIAPs to all the counties.
- President William Ruto had announced that each of the counties would receive Sh500 million to start up the CIAPs.
Image: BY MATHEWS NDANYI
The government is set to fully roll out the County Industrial and Aggregation Parks (CIAP) in all counties, CS for Trade and Industry Rebecca Miano has said.
Miano said they have put in place the necessary legislation and support structures to ensure the CIAPs start full operations as soon as possible.
The CS said the government would shortly release initial funding for the CIAPs to all the counties.
President William Ruto had announced that each of the counties would receive Sh500 million to start up the CIAPs.
"We have done the initial monitoring and surveys and talked to Treasury which will soon release the required funding in a few days," Miano said.
She said counties should now put their best foot forward in ensuring the CIAPs succeed.
The CS was speaking in Eldoret where she paid a courtesy call on Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and later visited Rivatex before heading to the county CIAP that is to be set up at Moiben.
The CS said the CIAPs would help counties aggregate their produce with value addition factories and hence boost government plans on industrialisation.
Miano said Kenya was now ranked as a good investment destination and the CIAPs would help create the required start up environment for investors.
"We have signed several partnerships and agreements that will lead to increased investments in the country," Miano said.
She said President Ruto had set a target for her ministry to increase contribution of the manufacturing sector to the GDP from the current 7.6 per cent to 15 per cent by 2027 and to 20 per cent by 2030.
"Through the CIAPs and other partnership and agreements we have signed and working with counties and other stakeholders, we will be able to meet the targets we have set," Miano said.
The CS said Eldoret was one of the key towns in the country targeted to be industrial hubs by the Kenya Kwanza administration in order to help create jobs for Kenyans.
Bii said the county was set to ensure its CIAPs at Moiben operates fully and they would work with the national government to help facilitate more investments to the region.
She later visited the Rivatex textile firm where she said the government would further expand the plant to be a leading producer in the region. She said so far, the firm was operating well but below its capacity yet it had wide markers to satisfy.
“It’s impressive that we have such a modern textile firm in this country and we will do everything possible to expand its operations and create more jobs for Kenyans,” CS Miano said.