The government is set to establish industrial parks in 35 constituencies in an effort to create jobs and boost manufacturing.
Trade and Industrialization Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya said they will on November 29, launch the centres at Othaya, Nyeri County.
He said the 35 constituencies were ready for kickoff, and that the programme will later be rolled out to the remaining constituencies.
“The 35 constituencies are ready. After that we shall roll out 100 days of completing another 100 centers,” said Munya.
He was speaking at Thika Technical Institute during the Central Region SME Conference &Expo 2019 yesterday.
Munya called on County governments to work closely with the national government to make the programme successful.
He also stated that the government would start to guarantee commercial loans issued to SMEs by banks to save financially depressed SMEs and unlock their potential.
This means SMEs will start accessing credit without being subjected to complex application procedures and collateral requirements.
He said they were also coming up with an SME policy that will spell out the roadmap for operations of SMES as well as guide county governments on setting investment units.
The CS challenged governors to establish regional economic blocks for marketing and networking.
The expo was also attended by Acting Kiambu Governor James Nyoro who announced plans to revive the tannery and leather manufacturing plants.
Nyoro said the County was looking for 50-acre around Thika town to set up a leather manufacturing plant.
He said production of hides and skins was highest in Dagoretti market but they were either neglected to waste or sold at throw away prices due to lack of market.
He said the revival of the sector would turn around Thika’s economy, create jobs and boost manufacturing.
“Our priority is to revive the leather industry and therefore we are sourcing for 50 acres in Thika to put up tanneries and leather manufacturing plants to produce shoes for our armed forces and the general public, handbags, car seats, cushions, jackets, leather garments and even industrial gloves,” said Nyoro.
He said the county also seeks to support the pork sub-sector by reviving the Uplands Bacon Factory in Lari Sub-County while in Kikuyu Sub County, it will setup a multi-million Muguga Agri-park to support the agriculture sector.
By Muoki Charles
