The Government has reiterated its commitment in creating a conducive environment to spur growth of the manufacturing sector in line with the Big Four Agenda.
Towards this end, Treasury Principal Administrative Secretary (PAS), Amos Gathecha, said the government had incentivized the sector by allowing manufacturers to import value addition equipment duty free.
This, he said, was one of the ways the government was using in reducing some of the barriers that prevent local investments in the country, especially the newly incorporated manufacturing companies, from thriving.
Speaking on Monday when he oversaw commissioning of stone crushing plant at Kagari Location in Runyenjes Constituency, Embu County, established by a young entrepreneur at a cost of Sh. 100 million, the PAS said expansion of manufacturing sector was one of the government’s key area of focus for employment creation and economic growth.
He encouraged more young people to come out of the closet and start their own enterprises, noting that the government had created initiatives to promote entrepreneurship through loans and grants to help them build and grow their startups.
Embu County Commissioner, Eddyson Nyale, hailed the young proprietor, Ken Mwaniki, for his bold step of creating a business that he said was going to revolutionize the construction sector in the area.
He said the proximity of the site will not only assist builders in getting adequate materials, but will also give them a saving in terms of cost incurred in transportation.
The plant that will among other products produce ballast and asphalt concrete for road use has directly employed 145 people, with the proprietor saying it was his joy to see the value of his work in the lives of people.
He said the project had taken seven months from purchase of equipment from China to installation and called on the business community in the area to support the venture through purchase of construction materials.
Mwaniki at the same time donated several trucks of ballast to schools, hospitals and churches around the area as part of giving back to the society.
By Samuel Waititu
