Kindiki meets governors over county industrial parks

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said the government will complete ten County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) by the end of the year.

Speaking on Monday when he met with governors for progress and status updates on the first cohort of 19 CAIPs, Kindiki said to achieve the goal, they must put in more work.

“This year, I believe, having looked at the information, of course, I have to go to the ground and verify on a case-by-case basis, but I am convinced, if we work hard this year, about between six and 10 of the CAIPs,” he said.

He noted that some issues including the brick-and-mortar completion, the production issues and marketing issues will be resolved.

“We can actually commission between six and 10 towards the end of this calendar year, 10 months from now if we work on a daily basis,” he said.

“That will be a huge score for both levels of government,”

Kindiki said the second cohort of 16 CAIPs is underway.

He added:

"Besides the physical infrastructure, production and marketing of the products to be aggregated for value addition requires planning, alignment and mobilisation of stakeholders, including the investors."

The DP noted that the national government will continue partnering with the respective county governments to establish the CAIPs, one per county.

On Monday, January 6, Kindiki said once complete, the CAIPs will grow the country’s manufacturing through Agro-Industries and enhance the competitiveness of the Agriculture sector sustainably.

The first phase cost Sh4.7 billion with a percentage of the sum going to coordination and support.

“The national government, in partnership with the county governments and other role players, is making significant progress in the implementation of the first phase of the CAIPs,” he said.

“19 Counties; Busia, Bungoma, Nakuru, Trans Nzoia, Migori, Homabay, Siaya, Kwale, Nyamira, Meru, Garissa, Mombasa, Machakos, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Murang'a and Embu are covered in the first phase that will cost Sh4.7 billion; Sh4.5 billion is meant for establishment of the CAIPs in phase one Counties and Sh200 million for project coordination, monitoring and County support.”

Manufacturing is one of the key pillars in the Kenya Kwanza Administration's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

It envisions having at least one CAIP in each of the 47 counties in Kenya.

Kindiki also held a review meeting on the status of the ongoing construction of SEZs/EPZs and to unlock bottlenecks on the Dongo Kundu (Mombasa), Samburu (Kwale), Naivasha and Njoro (Nakuru) SEZs/EPZs.

He said the construction of four SEZs/EPZs in Kirinyaga, Murang'a, Eldoret and Busia is at 50% and will be completed by June 30, 2025.

“The government is expediting the provision of access roads, water, electricity and ICT facilities and identification of lead investors to ensure the operationalisation of the four SEZs/EPZs immediately after construction ends,” Kindiki said.