Leather industry to create 100,000 jobs by 2027 – Kindiki

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki now says that the Kenya Leather industry will create at least 100,000 jobs by 2027.

Speaking when he inspected the ongoing works at the Kenya Leather Industrial Park (KLIP) in Kenanie, Machakos County, Kindiki said that as at now, the industry has only 17,000 jobs.

He went on to say that the government, in its transformation plan aims to have the industry inject at Sh120 billion into the economy from the current Sh15 billion.

“We proposed to transform within the livestock sector the leather industry to make it achieve two things; one, to ensure that the leather industry is able to inject Sh120 billion into our economy by 2027 up from the current Sh15 billion annually. Secondly, to ensure that the leather industry is able to generate 100,000 jobs up from the current 17,000 jobs,” Kindiki said.

The Deputy President noted that for many years, the country has focused more on red meat and carcasses, which are less valuable compared to hides and skins.

He said the government now plans to add value to hides and skins.

“For many years in our country, we have concentrated on carcass and red meat and ignored hides and skins yet it is established beyond doubt that the hides and skins are much more valuable than even the value of the meat. That is what this project is all about. To make sure that we are able to add value to our hides and skins.”

The DP insisted that Kenya's economic transformation depends to a significant extent on growth in value addition of raw materials and expansion of manufacturing across key value chains in the country.

During the visit, Kindiki also assessed the outstanding deliverables to ensure compliance with the presidential directive for completion of the KLIP by March 31, 2025.

So far, two factories for turning hides and skins into leather and the two factories for manufacturing finished leather products are complete, electricity and water reticulation, as well as deployment of permanent policing services, are being expedited to meet the deadline.

The DP was accompanied by the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Aden Duale and the Principal Secretary for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke, among other senior government officials.