NGPU
October 10, 2023
Preparations for Nakuru County Aggregation and Industrial Park project kick off ahead of launch by President Ruto and Governor Kihika
Written by Jeremiah Ogolla
Preparations for the groundbreaking ceremony of the County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIPs) in Njoro Sub-county have kicked off.
The County Trade Executive, Mr. Stephen Kuria, officially handed over the site to the contractor for the preparations, setting the stage for the forthcoming visit of H.E. President William Ruto, who will join H.E. Governor Susan Kihika to launch the park. This project is expected to be a game changer for the County this year.
“I want to assure the contractor that this project has the goodwill of H.E President William Ruto, Governor H.E Susan Kihika, and the Department of Trade,” said Kuria.
He further reiterated Nakuru County’s commitment to working closely with the administration of Egerton University and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the project. He called on the contractor to consider employing casual labourers drawn from the area when the project commences.
The County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) project is a collaborative effort between the State Department for Industry and the Council of Governors (COG). Each county will contribute 250 million shillings towards the initiative this financial year, a sum that will be matched by the national government.
Each County Aggregation and Industrial Park will house a minimum of four manufacturing sheds, each spanning 4,000 square meters. This means that manufacturing capacity will be devolved to each of the 47 counties.
To show Nakuru County’s commitment to this project Governor Kihika moved swiftly to provide 500 acres of land to augment the initial 250 acres on which the park will be constructed
“Having completed the park on time, the next challenge will be feeding the project. Thus, we will liaise with other relevant departments such as Agriculture, ICT, and Lands among others to ensure the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPS) does not become a white elephant,” said the CECM.
Trade Chief Officer Mr. Samuel Ndegwa, who was accompanied the Mr Kuria, echoed his sentiments. He assured of the Governor’s full support for the project and urged the contractor to expedite the construction process. Mr. Ndegwa also reiterated the call for the employment of local casual labourers.
“Today we have come to ascertain the commencement of the project which have commenced today, we will continue working together with the contractors to ensure the project is successful,” said Mr. Ndegwa.
According to the contractor, the initial stage of this project will see the activation of the construction of site offices, water sources for the construction, an electricity powerhouse, and fencing of the site.
“We will level and slash at the site, address drainage issues as well as create a system on how to employ the labourers,” said the contractor.
The Egerton Agro City Park and the KenGen Energy Park, are set to revolutionize industrialization in Nakuru County. These projects, upon completion, are expected to be a beacon for investors in manufacturing and other business sectors.
Their strategic location near production areas will serve as a boon for the farmers and primary producers, offering facilities for collection, storage, sorting, and even primary processing and value addition.
The ripple effect of these developments will not only provide employment opportunities for the youth but also boost exports, thereby strengthening the economy of Nakuru County.
