Kitui County has set aside 1,500 acres of land for both local and foreign investors to utilise in setting up businesses.
The vast land lies within the Kanyonyoo area where Governor Julius Malombe, at the weekend, commissioned the Kitui County Aggregation and Industrial Park (K-CAIP), which is positioned to attract investors and foster sustainable economic growth in the county.
Addressing over 3,000 people, including various exhibitors who attended the investors’ sensitization forum held at the industrial park, Governor Malombe stated that the county offers huge investment potential due to its vast wealth of mineral and natural resources as well as large tracts of land.
“These resources present a unique opportunity for large-scale industrial investments in cement production, mining and value-added mineral processing. Our goal is to capitalize on these resources and the county wealth, thus positioning Kitui as a leader in industrialization,” the governor said.
Noting that his administration was driving the industrialisation agenda by establishing appropriate support infrastructure and creating an enabling environment, Dr Malombe said that the establishment of the industrial park was designed to create a conducive environment for investors to unleash their full potential.
He urged the local investors, cooperatives and Medium, Small and Macro Enterprises (MSMEs) to tap into the investment potential in the county, adding that local investors will be given priority in land acquisition.
The governor noted that the industrial park will generate thousands of jobs for locals and regenerate the local economy.
Other than land, the county boss disclosed that the county government is working on an elaborate master plan for other incentives that will be offered to attract investors in the county.
Kitui Township MCA, Daniel Ngoima, who is also the chairman of the Trade and Investment Committee at the County Assembly, promised that the legislative arm of the county government will fast the formulation of relevant legislation policies to ensure that the industrial park is successful.
Kitui is endowed with vast mineral resources, including large deposits of limestone, coal deposits, iron ore, high-quality gemstones, graphite, gypsum and other minerals spread across the county. Further, rivers Tana and Athi, which flow throughout the year, cut across the county and offer ready water supply to big industries.
According to Dr Malombe, Kitui’s strategic location positions it as a vital trade link for local, regional, and international markets, making it a prime destination for investment.