In the next two months, the government will launch a comprehensive mapping and geo-location exercise across all 147 sub-locations in Nairobi County, targeting every industry establishment within the city.

According to a public notice issued on Tuesday, the State Department for Industry has confirmed that this large-scale operation, slated to run through May and June 2025, is designed to build an extensive database and directory of industries across Nairobi.

However, the government has yet to reveal the exact start date.

Officials have explained that the forthcoming data will play a crucial role in shaping national policy, supporting strategic planning, and easing investment decisions.

In the public notice, the government emphasised: "The State Department for Industry, in collaboration with the State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and the State Department for Economic Planning, together with their agencies, Kenya Industrial Estates and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), intends to conduct Mapping of Industries within Nairobi County."

Read More

  1. Kenya pushes bold investment reforms to fuel economic growth, global standing
  2. Kenya Railways records mixed fortunes as freight rises, passenger numbers fall
  3. Kenya’s GDP grew by 4.7 per cent in 2024, with agriculture leading the charge

The exercise, officials added, will rely on the work of specially trained research assistants, who will visit each industrial establishment without disrupting their daily operations.

Authorities have appealed to company managers and owners to fully support the effort. 

"Trained Research Assistants will visit industrial establishments across all the 147 Sub-locations in Nairobi County to collect relevant data between the months of May and June 2025," the notice highlighted.

To ensure the project’s success, the government has called on the cooperation of all industry players.

"Industry management is urged to be receptive and cooperative in providing accurate data to facilitate the success of this important initiative," the notice further stressed.

Mapping, in this context, refers to the creation of visual maps showing the exact locations of industrial sites, while geo-location involves identifying their precise physical positions using technologies such as GPS and Wi-Fi.

Though the government has not outlined specific timelines beyond the two-month window, authorities are keen to see the database contribute significantly to Nairobi’s future industrial development, planning, and policy directions.