Nairobi Industrial Parks Receive Upgrades to Attract Investment

One of the city’s flagship industrial zones, Nairobi Gate Industrial Park (NGIP) in Kiambu County, announced an investment of KSh 903 million (US$7 million) to expand its warehousing and manufacturing facilities by approximately 130,000 square feet.The newly upgraded units are specifically targeted at light manufacturing, agro-processing and textile firms and fall under the park’s special economic zone (SEZ) status, offering tax and customs incentives for export-oriented business. The expansion builds on earlier phases that delivered over 550,000 square feet of industrial space and created more than 430 permanent jobs. NGIP benefits from its strategic positioning — along Nairobi’s Eastern Bypass and close to both Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and the inland container depot — making it an appealing location for logistics, manufacturing and export operations. The upgrade aligns with Kenya’s broader goal of increasing manufacturing’s share of GDP and boosting regional competitiveness in the East African market. Business reaction has been broadly positive, with international and local firms welcoming the improved infrastructure, plug-and-play manufacturing sheds and SEZ incentives that reduce entry costs. Tour operators of light manufacturing anticipate smoother customs procedures and lower operational overheads. However, analysts caution that broader challenges remain — including high utility costs, land acquisition barriers and supply-chain disruptions — which could blunt investor enthusiasm if not addressed. Looking ahead, the Nairobi region’s industrial-real-estate market is expected to gain further traction as demand for warehousing, e-commerce fulfilment, and export-ready manufacturing space continues to rise. With improvements to bulk infrastructure and supportive policy reforms, Nairobi is positioning itself as a preferred regional manufacturing hub in the years ahead.