The government plans to commission 21 County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) by March 2027 after Deputy President Kithure Kindiki convened a meeting to address bottlenecks that had delayed their completion and operationalisation.
Eight parks are expected to be commissioned by December 2026, while another 13 are scheduled to become operational by March 2027 as the government seeks to accelerate the rollout of the industrial facilities across the country.
The Meru County Aggregation and Industrial Park is expected to become the first to be commissioned by President William Ruto this month. It will be followed by parks in Embu, Kirinyaga, Garissa, Wajir, Migori, Kisii and Busia by December.
The government intends to use the parks to promote manufacturing and value addition at the grassroots, with each facility initially focusing on products aligned with the economic potential of its respective county.
Meru and Embu will focus on macadamia value addition, while Kirinyaga will process tomatoes into paste.
In the North Eastern region, Wajir will focus on leather and camel milk, while Garissa will process sunflower oil. Migori will specialise in fish feed, Kisii in avocado oil and Busia in cassava starch.
The government says the parks will help create employment and income opportunities while increasing earnings for farmers and livestock keepers by providing markets for agricultural and livestock products.
Kindiki said government measures to reduce the cost of certified seed, fertiliser and sexed semen are expected to boost the production of crops, milk, meat and other products that will provide raw materials for the industrial parks.
The Deputy President said resolving the challenges affecting the parks was necessary to ensure the facilities begin operating and deliver economic benefits to communities across the country.
The CAIPs are part of the government’s broader efforts to promote local manufacturing, strengthen value addition and reduce reliance on markets for unprocessed agricultural and livestock products.
Kindiki also urged Kenyans to work closely with security and disaster management officers and follow safety directives as the country prepares for El Niño rains.
He called on county governments to strengthen local preparedness by unclogging drainage systems and ensuring critical safety information reaches residents at the grassroots.
Kindiki assured Kenyans that the government had put measures in place to cushion communities from the effects of the projected El Niño rains.
With 21 parks targeted for commissioning by March 2027, the government is expected to continue monitoring construction and operationalisation milestones as it seeks to expand industrial activity and create more economic opportunities at the county level.
