The government of Kenya is constructing aggregation and industrial parks across the 47 counties at a cost of Sh500 million each.
According to Trade and Industrialization Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria, the national government will put in half of the amount with the devolved units expected to cater for the other half.
The construction of the parks is in two phases, the first one being done on a first come first served basis, where counties that will have their allocations in place on time will be given priority.
Speaking yesterday during the groundbreaking ceremony of Kakamega County Aggregation and Industrial Park in Likuyani, President Ruto noted that the initiative will create more than 30,000 jobs and spur growth in the region.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Head of State who has been on a working tour of Western Kenya counties presided over the launch of the construction of the Bungoma County Aggregation and Industrial Park in Bungoma County.
In order to create an all-inclusive, job-creating economic model that invests in Kenya’s rich Agro resources, the national government through the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry (MITI) and Devolved Governments through the Council of Governors (COG) have established the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) in line with the bottom-up economic transformation agenda.
The parks are expected to boost overall national agroprocessing, increase farmer Income, create jobs, reduce post-harvest loss, connect counties through commodity exchange and warehouse receipting, and consolidate Kenya produce for the export market.
These centers will be located in each county within proximity to production areas to serve farmers and primary producers through collection, storage, and sorting, and even primary processing and value addition.
Each CAIP will have a minimum of four manufacturing sheds of 4,000 sqm, thus devolving manufacturing capacity to each of the 47 counties. In addition, there will be an Aggregation centre of 4,000sqms which shall have cold storage facilities to prevent post-harvest losses.
