Nairobi: The State Department for Industry has partnered with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to undertake a nationwide compliance monitoring exercise on the implementation of the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) Programme. Industry Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Juma Mukhwana noted that the exercise aims to strengthen transparency, accountability, and adherence to regulatory frameworks in managing the programme, which is implemented jointly by the national and county governments.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Mukhwana announced the initiative at the Ministry's Headquarters in Nairobi, indicating that a multidisciplinary team from the anti-graft commission will assess the systems and procedures guiding the programme to ensure the prudent use of public resources. The compliance monitoring exercise will focus on procurement processes, financial management systems, governance structures, and the general implementation framework of the industrial parks.
The review is intended to ensure that the programme adheres to relevant legal and regulatory requirements while safeguarding public funds invested in the initiative. Dr. Mukhwana emphasized that the initiative aims to reinforce transparency, accountability, and the proper utilization of public resources committed to the programme. Additionally, the monitoring process will help identify weaknesses that may expose the programme to corruption risks and propose corrective measures to strengthen institutional safeguards.
The County Aggregation and Industrial Parks Programme is a key government initiative aimed at promoting agro-processing and value addition at the county level. Through the programme, the government intends to establish facilities that will support the aggregation, storage, processing, and marketing of agricultural produce closer to production areas. The initiative is expected to strengthen agricultural value chains, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve market access for farmers.
Dr. Mukhwana affirmed that the programme aligns with the government's broader economic agenda of promoting industrialization and supporting local manufacturing. The national government has committed to providing Sh250 million to each county to support the development of industrial parks, with county governments required to provide matching funds. The national government has already disbursed Sh4.052 billion towards the programme, with ten counties receiving the full Sh250 million allocation to commence construction of the industrial parks.
In the 2025/2026 financial year, the government allocated an additional Sh4.448 billion to accelerate the programme's implementation. The first tranche amounting to Sh2.224 billion has been released to 24 counties to support ongoing development of the facilities. Currently, 34 counties are at different stages of developing County Aggregation and Industrial Parks.
Dr. Mukhwana emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring that the programme is implemented efficiently and delivers tangible benefits to farmers, small businesses, and local communities. Once operational, the industrial parks are expected to support agro-processing industries, promote value addition, and stimulate economic activities in counties across the country. The facilities are also projected to attract private sector investment in agro-processing while creating employment opportunities for youth and local communities.
Additionally, the parks are expected to reduce post-harvest losses by improving storage and processing capacity for agricultural produce. This initiative will strengthen linkages between farmers, processors, and markets, enabling producers to earn better returns from their produce. The partnership between the State Department for Industry and the anti-graft agency is expected to strengthen oversight and promote integrity in the programme's implementation. This will ensure enhanced monitoring and accountability, ensuring that public resources invested in the programme translate into sustainable economic development at the county level.