Kirinyaga industrial park now 86 per cent complete

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Kirinyaga is on the cusp of a transformative leap, with the County Aggregation and Industrial Park in Sagana nearing completion.

This flagship project, set within the Sagana Agro-Industrial City Special Economic Zone, marks a defining moment in the county’s bid to establish itself as a regional powerhouse for agro-processing and industrial growth.

The facility is expected to play a key role in strengthening agricultural value chains, promoting value addition and creating thousands of jobs once fully operational.

So far, construction of eight warehouses has reached 86 per cent completion. The units include two cold storage facilities, two aggregation centres and four value addition warehouses.

Governor Anne Waiguru said the industrial park is projected to generate more than 10,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect employment opportunities, particularly benefiting youth and women. She spoke in Kariti ward, Ndia constituency on Wednesday.

“Those who grow avocados will have a place to supply their produce as we will have an avocado oil factory, while tomato farmers will have their produce processed into tomato paste,” she said.

“This project will ensure our farmers are no longer at the mercy of middlemen but are part of a structured and profitable value chain.”

Kirinyaga’s economy is heavily anchored on agriculture, making the CAIP a strategic investment.

The county is one of Kenya’s leading rice producers, contributing more than 20 per cent of the national output, largely through the Mwea Irrigation Scheme.

In horticulture, farmers grow tomatoes, French beans, kales and onions, among others, supplying local and export markets.

The county is also a key player in tea and coffee production. Smallholder farmers, organised under cooperative societies, contribute about 27 per cent of the national coffee output and earned Sh5 billion in the 2024-25 coffee season.

The new industrial park is expected to address challenges that farmers have long grappled with such as post-harvest losses and unreliable markets by providing a structured system for aggregation, cold storage and processing.

Post-harvest losses affect about 30 per cent of produce from smallholder farmers in the country and eats into their profit margins.

Waiguru said the project is a flagship initiative under the county’s economic transformation agenda and aligns with broader national efforts to promote manufacturing and agro-industrialisation.

She said the park will attract investors in sectors such as food processing, packaging, logistics and warehousing, further boosting the local economy.

“The industrial park will create a reliable market for our farmers and significantly increase their incomes. It will also spur growth in related sectors, from transport to packaging, making Kirinyaga a key player in agro-industrial development,” Waiguru said.

The governor also credited the national government for supporting the project through its industrialisation agenda, noting that collaboration between the two levels of government has been critical in fast-tracking implementation.

A recent inspection by officials from the Ministry of Trade and the Office of the Deputy President confirmed the project is among the most advanced CAIPs in the country.

To safeguard the investment, the county government is also putting in place critical infrastructure, including dykes to protect the facility from flooding by rivers Sagana and Ragati.

Additional works include road networks and utility connections to ensure the park is fully functional once investors move in.

The park is expected to transform Kirinyaga’s agricultural sector from a largely raw-produce economy into a value-driven, industrialised system, unlocking new opportunities for farmers, creating jobs and strengthening the county’s position in Kenya’s agro-processing landscape.