Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has called on counties to harness their unique value chains to attract manufacturers and revitalise Kenya’s manufacturing sector. Speaking during the opening of the 1st Murang’a Investment Conference in Thika, Waiguru stressed that industrialisation is the backbone of economic transformation, urging counties to invest strategically in sectors where they hold a competitive edge.
“Each county has unique investment opportunities and advantages that, if well exploited, can attract many manufacturing industries,” she noted. Waiguru underlined that a thriving manufacturing sector is essential for Kenya’s industrialisation ambitions and has far-reaching effects on other areas such as logistics, accommodation, food, and tourism.
She expressed concern that despite being the second-largest employer after the public service, the manufacturing sector’s contribution to Kenya’s GDP has declined over the years. “When I was at the Treasury during the Vision 2030 rollout, we had set a target for manufacturing to contribute 15 per cent to GDP. Around 2010 or 2011, we reached about 10 per cent, but today it stands at just 7.6 per cent,” she lamented.
Waiguru urged counties to collaborate and learn from one another’s successful innovations, praising Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata for introducing a Budget and Economic Council that engages county experts in development planning.
She also highlighted Kirinyaga’s economic initiatives as examples of integrated growth, citing the development of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Export Processing Zone (EPZ), and planned tourism infrastructure like a golf course and a four-star hotel. These investments, she said, are interconnected, spurring growth in multiple sectors.
The governor pointed to the Sagana Industrial Park’s readiness, noting its availability of raw materials, access to infrastructure, affordable labour, and investor-friendly policies as key incentives.
“Working together National Government, County Governments, and the private sector we can bring manufacturing back on track, create jobs, and ensure a better economic future for our people,” Waiguru concluded
