The president had emphasized the set up of Industrial Parks in each and every county with an aim to improve the agriculture sector and manufacturing sectors to boost food security. Now the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry (MITI) is at an advanced stage of rolling out county industrial parks to promote manufacturing.

According to remarks from the Principal Secretary of, the State Department for Industry, Dr Juma Mukhwana, Sh4.7 billion has been budgeted by National Government during the financial year 2023-2024 for the establishment of county industrial parks. All the counties are hereby expected to implement the county industrial parks within.

‘‘The project will be implemented in two phases with 24 counties earmarked in Phase I and others in Phase II which begins in the year 2025. Once the parks are constructed the government has agreed with Equity Bank who have promised Sh250 billion to support the purchase of manufacturing equipment for industries willing to invest in the parks,’’ he said.

The county industrial parks will act as a hub for agricultural and manufacturing sectors offering an online portal through which products will be sold both locally and internationally. This partnership deal between the National and County governments is to actualize the industrial sheds in counties with the aim of bolstering growth.

‘‘The sheds will be provided with common three-phase electricity, water, effluent management, internet; security, and common transport. County Governments will also be supporting the project with an additional Sh4.7 billion (with each country contributing Sh250 million) to match the National Government funding,’’ added Dr. Mukhwana.

The move is set to go hand in hand with a project implemented by the State Department for Industry dubbed ‘Viwanda Mashinani’. He also emphasized the government is establishing a fund to give Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and young people equipment worth Sh6 million each to commence manufacturing activities.