In a bid to promote the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda through the County Aggregated Industrial Parks Programme, 18 counties are set to receive Sh4.5 billion for the project.
The funds are part of the County Government Additional Allocation Bill, 2023 which was signed to law by President William Ruto on Monday.
The first phase of the Industrial Parks program will be implemented in Bungoma, Busia, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Machakos and Meru counties.
Octher are Migori, Mombasa, Murang’a, Nakuru, Nandi, Nyamira, Siaya, Trans Nzoia, and Uasin Gishu coutnies.
Each county will receive sh 250 million for the project.
The industrial parks according to the Kenya Kwanza government create job opportunities for the youth and promote the local manufacturing industries.
Industrial and aggregation parks are one of the ways the Kenya Kwanza administration is seeking to boost agriculture and create jobs in the country.
Last November, the national and county governments appended their signatures to an intergovernmental agreement that would see the parks set up in 18 counties.
Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru and Investment CS Rebecca Miano presided over the event.
This meant that the national government would contribute Sh250 million while the devolved units would match with the same amount
Earlier that year in February, President Ruto said the government would allocate Sh1oo million to every county for the construction of Industrial and Aggregation Parks.
The President said the move will enhance Kenya’s productivity as the nation is prioritising the consolidation, processing, and value addition of agricultural products.
Ruto also noted that the construction of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks will unlock the industrial potential of counties across the country.
Rolling out of the programme will also broaden opportunities for Kenyans and boost economic growth.
The parks will also enhance the productivity of the agriculture sector in a sustainable manner hence creating inclusive decent jobs, increasing farmers’ income, and foreign exchange, and stimulating growth at the grassroots as part of the government’s Bottom Up Economic Agenda.
Garissa, Nyamira, Busia, and Kajiado are among the counties where groundbreaking events for the pars have already taken place.
