Trade ministry releases Kes 1.1Billion for County Aggregation and Industrial parks

By Rodney LUBOGA

The ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry has today announced released Ksh. 1,125 billion for the on-going phase one of the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks, popularly referred to as CAIPs by the National Government.

Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano in a statement said each county will receive Ksh. 62.5 million under tranche one stating that the funds will spur economic growth and development in the counties and rekindle the momentum of one of Kenya’s most revolutionary post-independent pro-people projects.  

CS Miano said the initiative is aimed at delivering economic turnaround and uplifting the lives and livelihoods of those at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid through the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

“To achieve this, my ministry targets to raise the contribution of manufacturing to our GDP from the current 7% to 15% by 2027 and to 20% by 2030 while increasing exports from 10% of the GDP to 30% by the year 2025”, CS explained.

The CS said her ministry, through the State Department for Industry, County Governments and the Council of Governors had agreed to collaborate in the establishment of CAIPS.

“The main objective of CAIPs is to grow manufacturing and agro-industrial investments and enhance competitiveness of the agriculture sector in a sustainable manner hence creating inclusive and decent jobs, promote productivity at the farm level, increase farmers’ income, increase export, increase foreign exchange and ultimately grow our economy by providing a platform for stakeholders’ engagement in promoting industrialisation in the country”, she explained. 

The CS said establishment of CAIPs followed the realisation that each of Kenya’s 47 counties had a competitive edge whose fuller economic dividend would only grow if the focus was at the grassroots levels. “We will consult the Council of Governors and county-based implementation organs and issue an expression of interest for the management of CAIPs in support of their operationalisation”, she added. 

In the 2023/2024 financial year, the two levels of Government are implementing CAIPs in Migori, Mombasa, Busia, Meru, Bungoma, Kirinyaga, Homa Bay, Machakos, Siaya, Kiambu, Murang’a, Trans Nzoia, Embu, Uasin-Gishu, Nandi, Nakuru and Garissa Counties.