SAGANA — At the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Sagana Industrial City in Kirinyaga County, Governor Anne Waiguru announced that the project is expected to generate approximately 150,000 jobs upon completion. The event, which took place on Saturday, was presided over by President William Ruto.
According to Kenya News Agency, the industrial city will create 30,000 direct jobs and an additional 120,000 indirect jobs. The project is also set to benefit thousands of local farmers by providing a market for their raw materials, which will be processed and potentially exported. The initiative will foster further employment opportunities in various supportive industries such as banking, logistics, ICT, security, and more. "As we gather to break the ground for Sagana Industrial City, we lay a foundation for a thriving industrial hub and a brighter, prosperous future for Kirinyaga," said Waiguru during her speech.
President Ruto expressed his full support for the project, highlighting ongoing negotiations with US and European markets to secure export agreements for the processed goods. He emphasized that the industrial city would not only boost local agriculture through value addition but also provide numerous job opportunities for the youth. The President has committed Sh750 million from the national government towards the development of the industrial park, which includes Sh500 million for the Export Processing Zone and Sh250 million for a County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP).
The Sagana Industrial City, which covers 242 acres, will feature an Export Processing Zone (EPZ), a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), and affordable housing units. The SEZ plan includes assorted industries, a four-star hotel, and a 9-hole golf course. Governor Waiguru noted that over 46 investors have already expressed interest in establishing factories within the industrial city. "The development of Phase 1 of the EPZ, which will focus on industries dealing in processing and manufacturing of export goods such as textiles and leather, is ongoing," she added.
The project is a key component of the county's Mountain Cities 2032 Blueprint, which aims to transform Ndia Constituency into the Industrial City of Kirinyaga. The CAIP is currently under construction, with six warehouses and two cold storage facilities expected to be completed within two months. This park will support both local and export-oriented industries, particularly in agricultural produce.
To ensure the success of the industrial city, local farmers have been organized into value-chain based cooperative societies to facilitate contract farming and streamline the aggregation process for processing. Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Salim Mvurya, committed to overseeing the development of the Industrial Park and will be engaging with county farmers to plan the delivery of their produce for processing.