Nasewa: The Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, has called for the expedited completion of the Nasewa County Aggregation and Industrial Park by November to attract investors to the project.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kinyanjui emphasized during an inspection tour that the delay in completing the project is depriving many farmers of the benefits of processing their farm produce at the facility. He highlighted the potential for industries dealing with food processing, value addition, edible oils, nuts, cotton, and peanut butter to establish operations at the park, benefiting local farmers and creating jobs for the youth.
The national government has already contributed Sh250 million towards the project, matching the county government's commitment. Kinyanjui urged for collaboration between the national and county governments to ensure timely completion, which would attract investors, particularly those targeting the East Africa export market, thus aiding local product marketing and job creation.
The CS noted that the facility's strategic location near the border offers opportunities to sell products in Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and DRC. He mentioned plans for infrastructure improvements, including a tarmac road and enhanced electricity and water connectivity, to develop the area into an urban center of growth and employment for Nasewa residents.
Busia Deputy Governor, Arthur Odera, acknowledged the challenges that have delayed the project but assured that these issues have been resolved. He stated that the contractor has been instructed to resume work promptly, with the aim of completing the project soon. The county government is awaiting the contractor's certificate of completion to proceed with final payments.
The project, initially slated for completion by June 2025, faced delays due to the County Government's inability to fulfill its financial commitment of Sh250 million.