Post: Nakuru County Government’s Push for Industrial Parks to Spur Economic Growth

Nakuru: The County Government of Nakuru is actively collaborating with the national government in promoting industrialization within the devolved unit to bolster trade, encourage local innovations, generate employment, and reduce poverty.According to Kenya News Agency, the devolved unit's Chief Officer for External Resource Mobilization, Dr. Victor Achoka, stated that industrialization is a key pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) focused on inclusive growth by empowering local communities, creating job opportunities, and enhancing value addition across Kenya's value chain. He indicated that the County Government had approved a policy document to establish and implement County Aggregation Industrial Parks (CAIPS) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs).Dr. Achoka emphasized that Nakuru County is home to over 250 manufacturing and value-addition enterprises, making it the second-largest contributor to Kenya's GDP. He affirmed that Governor Susan Kihika's administration was making delibe rate efforts to create an enabling business environment, citing key initiatives such as the Unified Business Permit and the recently launched Wezesha Biashara Fund aimed at supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives across the county.The External Resource Mobilization officer assured the business community that the County Government of Nakuru is supporting policies and legislations that facilitate a stable, predictable, and conducive environment for businesses and investments to thrive. He highlighted the County Government's investment in industrial infrastructure, including the ongoing development of essential infrastructure at Naivasha SEZ and the progress of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks in Njoro and GDC.Ms. Whitney Maina, Regional Chairperson of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers - South Rift Chapter, noted that Nakuru offers significant opportunities in vital sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, transport, housing, hospitality, tourism, and infrastru cture development among others. She emphasized the strategic importance of the manufacturing sector to the Kenyan economy, adding that it fueled the country's Gross Domestic Product growth aided by the resilience and innovation of the industrial sector.Ms. Maina pointed out that economic survey findings by various institutions show Nakuru is fast rising to become the most preferred investment destination for local and international investors. She observed that traders across Kenya are set to benefit from easier business operations with the implementation of the County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Act, 2024, aiming to standardize licensing procedures across all 47 counties.The forum, which included representatives from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Nakuru Business Association, Law Society of Kenya, and several other stakeholders from the business community, deliberated on key issues revolving around taxation, licensing, business regulation, and opportunities for public-priv ate partnerships to support economic growth in Nakuru County.