The ministry of investment, trade and industry is at an advanced stage of rolling out County industrial parks to promote manufacturing.
Dr.Juma Mukhwana
Speaking when he addressed members of Kenya Association of Manufacturers at a Nairobi hotel, Principal Secretary State department of industry Dr.Juma Mukhwana, said that the national government has budgeted Sh4.9 billion during financial year 2023/24 to establish and implement County industrial parks in all Counties in Kenya.
The PS said that through the project, the national government is partnering with County government to construct industrial sheds.
“The sheds will be provided with common three phase electricity, water, effluent management, internet, security and common transport,” he said.
Mukhwana averred that the county government will also be supporting the project with an additional Sh9.4 billion (With each County contributing Sh250 million) to match the national government funding.
He stated that the parks will also be provided with an online portal through which they will sell their products locally and internationally.
Mukhwana pointed out that the project will be implemented in two phases with 24 counties earmarked in phase one and others in phase two which begins in the year 2025.
“Once the parks are constructed the government has agreed with Equity bank who have promised Sh250 billion to support the purchase of Manufacturing equipments for industries willing to invest in the parks,” he said.
The PS said through a support project being implemented through the State department of industry dubbed ‘Viwanda Mashinani’, the government is also establishing a fund to give micro, small and medium enterprise and young people equipment worth Sh6 million each to commence manufacturing activities.
“The fund will eventually be developed into an Industrialization fund to support continuos improvement and support to manufacturing,” said Mukhwana.
