The County Government of Murang’a is planning to use about 1,400 acres of land it got from Delmonte Company to establish industries.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata has announced that the local county assembly has already adopted a master plan on how the land will be used for setting up industries and other public amenities.
He said a big chunk of the land will be used in setting up factories with the aim of promoting value addition of farm produce, thus creating employment for thousands of Murang’a youth.
On Monday, Kang’ata said they have written to the state department of lands and physical planning to conduct a survey of the land.
“We are waiting for the survey to be done by officers from the Ministry of Lands, and also we have written to the National Lands Commission to approve the land for public use,” said Kang’ata.
With the establishment of industries on the land, Kang’ata noted the economy of the county is destined to improve with scores of locals securing employment in the factories.
He stated that the land will benefit residents of Murang’a significantly, observing that its proximity to Thika also makes it a hub for agro-industrial activities.
On the same land, the county administration has constructed an eye and dental hospital, and also the National Government is working to build 1,920 affordable housing units.
“Once the process of the approval of the land use is complete, we will organise an investor conference probably by mid next year. The conference will be able to pick credible investors to set up industries on the land.
“The process may be long, but we hope in less than two years’ time, the investors will have established factories specially to do value addition on our farm produce,” remarked Kang’ata.
The governor observed that young people who are studying various artisan courses in local institutions will be considered in construction works of the industries.
According to the master plan adopted by the county assembly recently, out of the total ceded acreage, 713 acres will be allocated for industrial development. This includes 432 acres dedicated to export processing zones for local investors in manufacturing.
Hazardous industries will occupy 69 acres, with 87 acres set aside for packaging and assembly plants. Another 120 acres are designated for processing industries.
The county government also proposes to use 71.19 acres of land to establish a specialised Level-6 teaching and referral hospital.
The health facility is intended to enhance medical training and provide advanced healthcare services in the region.
The master plan also outlines that in order to address congestion in nearby schools, seven acres will be reserved for a primary school accommodating an estimated 5,000 learners.
According to the plan, locals will be allocated a total of 35 acres to establish residential developments.
A stadium to nurture youth talents, with an estimated seating capacity of 30,000 people, will also be built on five acres, and a further 56 acres will cater to a recreational park, which has been proposed to be adjacent to a dam and along the Makindi River.
The plan also proposes an approximate area of 15 acres to cater to county government offices, a fire station, Ardhi House, and public administration purposes.
Business zones will consume 43 acres, while open-air markets will take up two acres, a move that will support small-scale traders and reduce hawking along the roads in the planning area.
By Bernard Munyao and Purity Mugo
