Likuyani Member of Parliament Innocent Mugabe has challenged residents to take advantage of the business opportunities the Kakamega County Aggregation and Industrial Park will offer once complete.
Mugabe, whose constituency hosts the park, said it has lifted the economic potential of the area; hence, residents should be prepared to take advantage of it.
He was speaking at a fundraising event at the home of former Nzoia ward representative Dickson Ombayo in Matisi village.
The MP reminded his constituents that he is ready to seek development opportunities from any willing partner, regardless of his political affiliation, for their own good.
He said, “Recently, President Dr. William Ruto came to Sinoko ward for the groundbreaking of the multi-million aggregation and industrial park.
“That is a mega project for the entire county, which I passionately lobbied for in Likuyani. Ideally, the county had plans to take the project to Mumias. The land had even been purchased.
However, I told Governor Fernandes Barasa that we have never had a mega-county project, and he listened to me and decided the park will come to Likuyani,” said Mugabe.
The MP said once the park is operational, investors will establish factories that will offer employment opportunities to jobless youths, besides advising farmers on better farming practices and profitable crops.
“These are opportunities you must get ready to seize. The park will economically empower all of us and spur development in the entire constituency,” Mugabe stated.
The legislator also disclosed that plans are underway to establish a textile factory in the Soy area of Likuyani ward that will offer numerous job and business opportunities to the locals.
“For many years, I have been taking youths to work in textile factories elsewhere in the country. However, I have discussed and agreed with the governor, and now we shall establish our own textile factory here in the constituency,” he said.
In August, the President kicked off the construction of Kakamega County Aggregation and Industrial Park in the Sinoko area of the Likuyani constituency.
He said the initiative will create more than 30,000 jobs and spur growth in the region.
The Kenyan government is constructing aggregation and industrial parks across the 47 counties at a cost of Sh500 million each.
According to former Trade and Industrialization Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, the funding is equally shared between the national and county governments.
The construction of the parks is in two phases, with the first being done on a first-come, first-served basis, where counties that have their allocations in place on time will be given priority.
By Melechezedeck Ejakait
