By Agnetta Okwemba
The government will spend Sh495 million for construction of the Kabati (Mitubili-Gatanga) Export Processing Zone in Murang’a county.
Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Salim Mvurya said that the 500 acres’ piece of land will generate investment opportunities across various sectors including agro-processing and pharmaceuticals.
“The first phase of construction is projected to be completed by November this year,” he said while laying the foundation of the project.
He first phase of the project Mvurya said is projected to be complete by November 2024.
Through backward linkage, Mvurya noted that local farmers producing Macadamia, Avocado amongst other horticultural products sourced from Murang’a county and other counties will be able to sell to investors for processing and export.
“The value chains which are going to be very critical for that project are already being organized by the ministry and county government of Murang’a,” he added.
Mvurya stated that the project will create 3,000 direct jobs in the first phase priority being given to locals in line with the bottom up transformation agenda aimed at increasing the manufacturing sector’s contribution to the GDP.
Murang’a’s County Government officials commended the initiative to empower locals who were called to make their product ready ahead of the completion of e factories.
Once completed, it will be the largest factory zone in the region, industrializing Murang’a and stimulating the economic growth in the area.
In a move to further support economic empowerment in the region, Mvurya issued Ksh. 300 million to Amica Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCO) in Murang’a town.
The funds administered by the ministry through the Kenya development authority is part of the SAFER project funded through World Bank aimed at providing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with financial support to recover, expand and sustain their operations.
“We have about 7.5 million Kenyans in MSMEs sectors faced with the challenge of accessing affordable credit,” said CS Mvurya urging them to make use of the funding module.
