Kirinyaga County is on the cusp of a major economic transformation as the Sagana Industrial Park attracts significant investor interest.

Anne Waiguru has announced that over 18 investors have been shortlisted to establish factories within the park, selected from an initial pool of 54 applicants.

These high-value investors will focus on agro-processing and manufacturing, with a particular emphasis on export-oriented production in agricultural, leather, and textile sectors.

During a recent inspection tour with Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, Governor Waiguru outlined the project's progress.

“The development of Phase 1 of the EPZ is underway and these prospective investors are now part of our shared vision for an industrialised county that will lead in agro-processing and manufacturing,” she stated.

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The county will soon advertise for the lease of land and warehouses within the park.

The Sagana Industrial Park, situated on a 242-acre site, also incorporates an affordable housing project.

Construction of six warehouses and two cold storage facilities is nearing completion, currently at 60 per cent and projected to finish by the end of March.

The County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) project, with a total contract value of Sh 499.9 million, is a collaborative effort between the national and county governments.

To date, the county has contributed Sh184 million, while the national government has disbursed Sh133 million.

Governor Waiguru emphasised the transformative potential of the park, anticipating the creation of over 10,000 direct jobs, along with substantial benefits for local farmers who will supply raw materials for processing and export.

The park is also expected to attract ancillary industries, including banking, logistics, customs, ICT, security, farm inputs, hospitality, fire and disaster management, and recreational facilities.

“The park gives life to our county’s Mountain Cities 2032 Blue Print that designates Ndia Constituency as the Industrial City of Kirinyaga. We reaffirm our commitment to intergovernmental collaboration for the successful implementation of this project,” the Governor added.

To fully realise the park’s potential, Governor Waiguru urged the national government to expedite the tarmacking of the NCPB-Karima road, the primary access route to the park, and to accelerate the establishment of a power substation and the construction of a water and sewer system for Sagana town.

CS Kinyanjui expressed his satisfaction with the project’s progress, commending Governor Waiguru’s efforts.

“We are here to assess the progress of the development of Sagana Industrial Park, we are impressed with the work Governor Waiguru is doing here,” he said.

He urged the EPZ project contractor to accelerate work to meet the May launch deadline. Kinyanjui underscored the importance of rural industrialisation, noting that counties like Kirinyaga represent the next wave of investment.

He stressed the park’s contribution to increased domestic production and reduced reliance on imports.

He also called for community support for government development initiatives, stating, “Too much fighting cannot produce anything. Kirinyaga among any other counties that are doing the CAIPS will provide the momentum because sometimes when a vision is crafted, not everyone is able to see the vision. But the few who are able to see it now are the first ones to benefit.”

The CS highlighted the opportunities presented by Kenya’s trade agreements with nations like the US, China, and the United Arab Emirates, noting that the country currently only meets 20 per cent of the potential market demand.