Garissa County and the larger Northeastern region will benefit from the upcoming Sh500 million Garissa County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) in the area.
The project, the first industrial park in the area since independence is projected to be completed in the next nine months, with the county and the national government each contributing Sh250 million.
It will also create at least 1,000 job opportunities for the local people and also benefiting thousands of farmers at the same time, thus reducing poverty levels.
Speaking after launching the project, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, who until Thursday served in the Trade docket said that the main objective of the industrial parks was to grow manufacturing and investments through agro-industries.
The CS further said the venture will enhance productivity of the agriculture sector in a sustainable manner, hence creating inclusive decent jobs, increasing farmers’ income, increasing foreign exchange and stimulating growth at the grassroots as part of the government’s Bottom up Economic Agenda.
“There has never been any industry in this region since independence. I am very happy that today I am presiding over the groundbreaking of the first-ever industrial park. I am surprised that people in Garissa are growing sunflower, rice, tomato, watermelon, and other cash crops that are doing very well. However, 60 percent of your produce is going to waste in between getting it from the farms to the market,” Kuria said.
“With this new project, we will be able to do value addition for your produce, bring new technology and better equipment so that you can do your own packaging and sell at a better profit,” he added.
The CS regretted that reports show that last year, the country lost livestock worth Sh.1.9 billion dollars due to drought but now with the industrial park, no more money will be lost even if drought strikes because the farmers will be able to sell their livestock for skin and other products.
“I am sure that in the coming years, investors will be flocking in here to buy animal skin for products like shoes, belts, and other fashion-related investments which will go a long way in improving the livelihood of the local communities,” he said.
“Apart from the employment which our local people will get, the amount of money that the farmers will be able to put in their pockets will help in creating even more opportunities. This is an opportunity that if we all work together, we will completely eliminate poverty in this region,” he added.
Garissa governor, Nadhif Jamal on his part said that the project will help the county to process trademark products such as camel milk powder and animal skin which will be able to help the people economically.
“I am looking forward to the uptake of this project by the investors whom we welcome wholeheartedly in Garissa so that we can make it a reality for the benefit of our people not only in terms of job creation, but also in terms of value addition so that we are moving ahead with our development agenda,” said Jama.
“I am particularly happy because in my campaign manifesto, I had a whole section talking about industrialization for Garissa County. When this initiative was announced, I was probably the first governor from the region to embrace and run for it,” he added.
The governor expressed optimism that the losses running into millions of shillings that farmers incur in the post-harvest process will be a thing of the past once the project is up and running.
“This county will be able to develop its value chains in the five investment areas including Tomato processing plants, rice processing, powdered camel milk, hide and skin, edible oil, and sunflower,” he said.
Jama called on the contractors to move with speed and complete the project in the stipulated time saying that they would have no excuse, since the project is fully supported by both the national and county government.
Local leaders led by the Garissa township MP Mohamed Dekow and the North Eastern Regional Commissioner John Otieno said that the project will also boost security since it will absorb many youths who are currently jobless by keeping them from radicalization.
“We must up our security because it is very important to this project. Without security in our county, this project will be useless so I am asking you all to work with our officers because this the first project of its own kind for the region and we must protect it,” said Dekow.
By Erick Kyalo
