The Kirinyaga County Government has commenced the onboarding process for investors interested in establishing industries at the Sagana Industrial Park.
On Thursday, officials from the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) accompanied representatives from 13 committed companies in a tour of the facility, where these businesses plan to establish factories.
Calbert Njeru, the County Executive Committee Member for Cooperatives, Trade, Tourism, Marketing, Industrialization and Enterprise Development, welcomed the officials and expressed confidence that the onboarding process would conclude by June’s end.
Njeru highlighted substantial progress in developing the necessary infrastructure to support industrial operations at the facility.
“Infrastructure development stands at 90% completion. Road tarmacking is underway with a contractor already appointed, while the Governor has allocated resources to ensure adequate water supply. Electric power is already available at the site,” he added.
Governor Anne Waiguru announced that both the County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) and Export Processing Zone (EPZ) facilities have reached 90% completion, coinciding with the official commencement of investor onboarding.
The construction of eight warehouses is complete, including two cold rooms, two aggregation facilities, and four for value addition purposes.
“There is widespread excitement as the Industrial Park’s rapid development becomes evident. This represents tangible progress,” she stated.
The Governor explained that the facility, situated within the Sagana Agro-Industrial Citya designated Special Economic Zone (SEZ)will generate employment opportunities and create new market channels for farmers by connecting agricultural production with processing and manufacturing.
“Upon completion, the industrial park will provide direct employment for over 10,000 young people, with an additional 100,000 benefiting indirectly through produce sales and related service provision,” she added.
Waiguru described the project as a flagship economic transformation initiative that will be instrumental in bolstering Kirinyaga’s agricultural economy while establishing the county as an emerging manufacturing and agro-processing center in the region.
“The industrial park will draw investors to establish agro-processing factories, creating a dependable market for local agricultural products and enhancing farmers’ incomes countywide. Additional investment opportunities encompass logistics, packaging, warehousing, and other facility-related industrial activities,” she explained.
Moses Kipkebut, EPZA’s Acting General Manager for Investment and Corporate Communication, reported that 13 investors from various sectors have already demonstrated interest in establishing operations at the Sagana EPZ.
“We are here today to engage with investors interested in the Sagana EPZ and expedite their onboarding, in preparation for its imminent commissioning by President Ruto,” stated Kipkebut.
Kipkebut emphasized that Sagana possesses competitive advantages over numerous EPZs nationally, owing to its strategic location and robust agricultural foundation.
“The Sagana EPZ offers multiple benefits compared to other EPZs, including proximity to Nairobi and the airport, which is particularly advantageous for fresh agro-processing. Its location in one of Kenya’s premier horticultural regions, combined with water availability and enhanced infrastructure, provides additional competitive advantages,” he added.
He further mentioned that investors establishing operations at the facility would enjoy appealing tax incentives through the EPZ program.