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The Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry is taking significant steps to dispel the misconception that only foreigners can successfully run the industrial and manufacturing sectors in Kenya. Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano emphasized the government’s commitment to fostering homegrown companies and encouraged the local business community to venture into industrial production.
Speaking at a dissemination forum for the Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV) in Laikipia County, held at a Nanyuki hotel, Ms. Miano asserted that any Kenyan can engage in manufacturing with some initial capital. She highlighted simple yet impactful examples: “Those who grow tomatoes can start making tomato paste at their backyards, others can do tanning of raw hides and skins while others can start manufacturing nails. All that is manufacturing. We have to start with small industries,” the CS stated.
Ms. Miano noted that even developed nations began with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that eventually scaled into large industries. She further elaborated on the government’s efforts to promote local manufacturing and provide access to financing through institutions like the Kenya Development Corporation (KDC).
“I am urging all those with bankable and feasible ideas on manufacturing to come to KDC, discuss their project ideas so that they can get start-up capital and start their industries,” Miano advised.
The Cabinet Secretary explained that the MTP IV aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), focusing on five pillars: Agriculture transformation, Healthcare, Housing, Digital superhighway, and the MSME economy. She added that the MTP IV would address issues such as water scarcity, food insecurity, and leverage Laikipia’s potential in agro-processing, livestock, leather, and meat value chains.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to decentralizing manufacturing, Ms. Miano revealed that the National government had allocated Sh. 1.12 billion for constructing 18 County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs). Her ministry is set to release an expression of interest to invite investors to establish aggregation facilities within these parks.
“These CAIPs are very important since they are going to devolve manufacturing and industrialization to the county level, offer job opportunities, increase manufacturing and processing, and enable counties to participate in the export of manufactured goods and products,” Ms. Miano explained. She also pointed out that CAIPs would help reduce post-harvest losses, especially during periods of surplus farm produce.
Defense Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru, who accompanied the CS, praised the MTP IV as a transformative initiative for Laikipia, particularly in tapping into the livestock and leather value chains given the region’s significant livestock population.
The Ministry’s efforts to promote local manufacturing are expected to boost Kenya’s industrial sector, create jobs, and drive economic growth, marking a pivotal shift towards a self-sufficient industrial economy.
