Mombasa: Kitui County Governor, Dr Julius Malombe, has rallied both local and international investors to explore the county's vast potential investment opportunities for their business growth as well as economic prosperity for both the county and the nation.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kitui County boasts six economic zones with a wide range of unexplored investment opportunities, which, if fully utilised, can significantly turn around the livelihoods of the residents and the nation at large.
The County government boss, while speaking during a two-day Kitui Investors' Sensitisation Forum held at Kitui County Aggregation and Industrial Park (K-CAIP) at Kanyonyoo, noted that the county's six economic and investment zones are endowed with many natural resources, including large deposits of limestone, significant coal deposits, high-quality gemstones, and other minerals such as iron ore, graphite, copper, and gypsum. 'These resources present a unique opportunity for large-scale industrial investments in cement production, mining, and value-added mineral processing,' said the governor.
Malombe further added that the County's semi-arid climate coupled with man-made water points offers immense potential for agribusiness, irrigation-based farming, and renewable energy generation. 'By capitalising on these resources, we can position Kitui as the country's leader in industrialisation and value addition, ensuring that our county's natural wealth translates into tangible economic benefits for the people,' the governor noted.
While addressing the investors forum, Malombe underscored that to drive the industrialisation agenda, his government has established an enabling environment for investment by willing investors. The County Chief observed that his Administration has prioritised infrastructure expansion in energy accessibility, clean water supply, and digital connectivity to ensure that businesses can operate efficiently.
'Our efforts in modernising critical infrastructure have been complemented by the expansion of energy grids, improvement of road networks, water supply, and the development of smart technology solutions to enhance the ease of doing business in Kitui,' he said. The Governor noted that the industrialisation agenda is largely exemplified by the establishment of the Kitui County Aggregation and Industrial Park (K-CAIP) at Kanyonyoo, which is designed to create a conducive environment for investors to unleash their potential.
Malombe observed that investment is the lifeline to economic growth of developed countries. It fuels industrialisation, fosters innovation, creates jobs, and improves the quality of life for the people. To become a successful investor, the Governor urged the locals, including small-scale business owners, to unite and form partnerships with financial institutions to accelerate their investment levels and unlock their full potential for economic growth.
The two-day forum dubbed the 'Kitui County investor's sensitisation forum' attracted over 3500 participants across the county. The forum was a precursor for the Kitui International Investors Conference slated to take place in March next year.