County Supports Nairobi Industrial Innovation Projects

In 2025, Nairobi County expanded its support for industrial innovation projects, aiming to strengthen manufacturing, sustainability, and digital transformation. The county’s Innovation and Digital Economy Sector set the stage in April 2025 with a strategic workshop that aligned ICT infrastructure, startups, and smart city programs with Governor Johnson Sakaja’s manifesto. This marked the beginning of a cohesive plan to embed innovation into industrial development, ensuring that Nairobi’s industrial zones benefit from modernized infrastructure and digital tools.
By May–June 2025, the State Department for Industry began mapping all 147 industrial zones in Nairobi County, creating a comprehensive database to guide investment and policy. This mapping exercise was designed to identify opportunities for industrial clustering, streamline regulation, and support SMEs operating in manufacturing and logistics. The initiative provided a clearer picture of Nairobi’s industrial landscape, enabling the county to plan targeted interventions that foster innovation and competitiveness.
On August 14, 2025, Nairobi hosted the Sustainable Innovation Seed Accelerator, an 8-week program empowering African startups with mentorship, networks, and training. The accelerator focused on sustainability-driven solutions in agriculture, mobility, the built environment, and energy, directly supporting industrial innovation projects that tackle pressing challenges in Nairobi and beyond. This program showcased Nairobi’s commitment to nurturing startups that combine industrial growth with environmental responsibility.
Looking ahead, Nairobi County plans to integrate industrial innovation with broader initiatives such as the Green Business Initiative (October 2025) and the Business Growth Program (October 2025). Officials believe that by combining sustainability, digitalization, and industrial clustering, Nairobi can accelerate job creation, attract investment, and reinforce its role as East Africa’s industrial hub. If sustained, these efforts could transform Nairobi into a model of industrial resilience and innovation for other counties across Kenya.