Port Expansion in 10,000 to Create retail Jobs in Nairobi

Kenya has marked a major milestone in its industrial and investment landscape with the official opening of the Nairobi Gate Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the first in East Africa to feature a fully gazetted customs control area. Unveiled on Thursday in Nairobi, the new zone creates a one-stop hub where regulatory agencies—including the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, Customs, and the Special Economic Zones Authority—operate under one roof. According to Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Investment Promotion, the launch strengthens Kenya’s position as an attractive destination for both domestic and foreign investors while supporting national goals to boost manufacturing and expand job creation.
The SEZ, developed by Improvon Group, has been structured to meet East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) requirements by hosting all critical state agencies needed for cross-border trade, compliance, and logistics. Its design reflects a growing demand for modern, flexible industrial spaces, offering built-to-suit facilities that cater to warehousing, distribution, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, cold-chain operations, and high-value goods storage. Developers have so far invested $40 million in the project, with a commitment to scale total investment to $160 million by 2035. Dean Shillaw, Managing Director at Impact North SEZ, said the consolidation of services within the zone effectively extends Kenya’s border inward, enabling seamless import and export processes supported by weighbridges, customs-controlled gates, and enhanced security systems.
The inauguration has triggered strong optimism from both government stakeholders and private sector players, who believe the project will set a new benchmark for industrial parks across the region. SEZA CEO Kenneth Chelule described Nairobi Gate as a flagship development that will drive economic growth and enhance Kenya’s competitiveness as a regional manufacturing and logistics hub. The industrial park has already created more than 400 direct and indirect jobs and is projected to generate at least 10,000 positions as it expands. With Kenya’s 2030 spatial development plan emphasizing industrialization, Nairobi Gate is expected to attract multinational manufacturers while providing local enterprises with modern, efficient infrastructure. As the zone ramps up operations, policymakers anticipate increased export volumes, smoother regulatory processes, and improved investor confidence—key ingredients for Kenya’s long-term economic transformation.