- Programme targets value addition and agro-processing in all 47 counties
- Farmers to access shared equipment for packaging, storage, and quality control
- 15 counties already underway; others risk missing out if they delay
- Project aligns with Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda
The national government has rolled out a bold plan to inject Sh25 billion into the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) over the next five years, aiming to spur value addition and agro-processing in every county.
This major development was announced by Principal Secretary for Industry Dr. Juma Mukhwana during a key meeting of the National Technical Implementation Committee held at the Kenya Industrial Training Institute (KITI) in Nakuru.
Dr. Mukhwana said the funds will be used to set up common user facilities in each county. These shared spaces will offer processing, packaging, cold storage, and quality control equipment to benefit farmers and producers.
“This investment will allow local producers to add value to their goods, helping to grow our rural manufacturing sector,” he stated.
The programme is designed to cut post-harvest losses, improve product quality, and ensure local goods can compete regionally and globally.
The Sh25 billion fund is one of the largest public investments in rural manufacturing, Mukhwana said, noting it fits squarely into Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
“We want to support counties in turning agriculture into industrial success and in creating employment,” he emphasised.
Dr. Mukhwana confirmed that groundwork has already started in at least 15 counties, including Kisumu, Meru, Kilifi, and Bungoma, which are leading in implementation.
He warned that counties that delay land provision or fail to meet basic standards in infrastructure and operational readiness could lose their funding.
“Only counties that meet the basic criteria will benefit,” he cautioned.
The Kenya Industrial Training Institute (KITI) and other national institutions will be used to train and equip local personnel to manage the parks effectively, ensuring sustainability of the projects.
Some of the parks, he noted, could be up and running by early next year.
Private players, cooperatives, and development partners who attended the meeting welcomed the initiative, terming it a game-changer for rural development and agricultural transformation.
The programme is expected to create thousands of jobs across the country and position Kenyan produce for export markets by supporting agro-processing from the grassroots level.
