(SAGANA, KENYA) – Kirinyaga County’s Sagana Industrial Park is nearing commissioning. A multi-agency team of national government officials has given the project a positive assessment after a visit to verify progress and identify remaining gaps. The assessment comes days after the government directed that County Aggregation and Industrial Parks that have achieved more than 90% completion be fast tracked for operationalisation.
Kinguru Wahome from the State Department for Trade led the multi-agency delegation at the park. He said the team deployed by the Principal Secretary to Kirinyaga is impressed by the progress. He noted that about seven months ago the level of achievement was around 82%. It now stands at around 94%. He said Kirinyaga is among the top eight counties in the implementation of the CAIP programme that have achieved 90% and are subject to commissioning by the president on a date yet to be set.
Wahome said the team visited to confirm that what had been indicated is already done. He said there are a number of challenges. Most were not part of what had been put in the quotation. They include electricity connection where a substation is needed, water treatment and a small section of road that is not all weather.
Deputy County Commissioner of Kirinyaga West Sub county John Mbugua said the project shows what can be achieved when people work together as a team. He said the remaining work will be fast tracked to bring the project to completion so residents can realise the dream of the CAIP. He said the project has assisted in creating employment for young people. Both skilled and unskilled young people have been employed at the site. Upon completion and operationalisation, a large number of young people are expected to be employed there.
Kirinyaga County Executive Committee Member for Trade Calbert Njeru said the visit was a critical step towards completing the industrial park. It is one of Governor Anne Waiguru’s flagship projects and a key part of the county’s industrialisation agenda. The vision is to create an industrial base that promotes value addition, creates jobs, provides markets for farmers and reduces post harvest losses.
Njeru said the assessment would lead to proper addressing of outstanding infrastructure. This includes electricity, water, all weather roads and a bridge. He said the county hopes the national government will help with infrastructure like roads and the bridge. This would fast track the remaining works, allow the park to be operational and have it commissioned.
The team comprised officials from the State Departments of Industries, Roads, Public Works, Water, Energy, Environment, ICT and Finance among other agencies. The assessment coincided with a benchmarking visit by Nyeri County’s Department of Trade and Industries. The Nyeri team came to learn from Kirinyaga’s experience in implementing the CAIP programme.
Nyeri CECM for Trade Lucy Kiogura said her county is about 50% into its own CAIP. She wanted practical lessons from Sagana which began earlier. She said the visit would make Nyeri’s work easier and the county now knows what is required for successful implementation. The delegation was particularly interested in cold rooms, power supply and roofing structures. Kiogura said the visit had given Nyeri a clearer picture of what was required.