Trade and Industry Cabinet
Secretary Lee Kinyanjui says the government will pay over Sh80 billion in pending
bills owed to middle-level contractors in a bid to help enhance economic
growth.
Kinyanjui said the
government is dealing with pending bills urgently because it would also help
Kenyans, including small contractors who trade with the government, to strengthen
their economic activities.
“When we have this
money in the economy, it means we will have better consumer power because our
people will have money circulating and thus will help to enhance more economic
activities,” said the CS.
He was speaking in
Eldoret on Monday after touring the EPZ project that is under construction at
Langas in Eldoret and also the County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CIAP) at
Moiben in the same county.
The CS who was with
governor for Uasin Gishu Jonathan Bii, and PS for Trade Juma Mukhwana also held
a public forum with the business community in the region.
CS Kinyanjui said the
government was keen to ensure that the two projects were up and running by the
end of June.
“Our president has
given us instructions to ensure that we complete the EPZ and CAIPs by the end
of June so that we have activities to help enhance economic growth in this
region,” said Kinyanjui.
He urged residents to
apply to use the two projects for trade activities, noting that the government
had done everything possible to bring down startup costs for various businesses
in a move to help Kenyans invest in various areas.
Kinyanjui said the
government was even ahead on creating markets for Kenyan products abroad.
“In fact now we have
more markets out there than what we can produce, and that is why we are here to discuss
ways through which we can enhance our production to fully supply the
markers we have,” said Kinyanjui.
He said President Ruto
had been keen to ensure markets are available out there for Kenyan products, adding that local traders should take advantage of the goodwill from the
government to invest in manufacturing.
“At the EPZA, the
government is giving you space and even machinery which you can use to manufacture
any product for export,” said Kinyanjui, adding that the opportunities available
are both small and large entrepreneurs.
“You don’t have to be
a billionaire in order to engage in the opportunities available; you can start
small, and we help you to grow,” said Kinyanjui.
He said although there
were complaints over high costs of power in the country, the government was
working on the same.
Kinyanjui said it was
possible for Kenyans to work within the existing environment to grow the
economy.
“There is no situation
of perfection for trade to work. We have to work within the prevailing
conditions as the government works to deal with the issues like costs of power
which affects many sectors like manufacturing,” said Kinyanjui.
He said that with the
reduced cost of fuel and improved shilling to dollar rate, there is improved
ease of doing business in the country.
Governor Bii said his
administration was working to position Eldoret City as an investment hub
because it has all the requirements to attract local and foreign investors.
