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Murang’a County is set to have a Multi-billion Export Processing Zone-EPZ, at Kabati-Makenji Area in Ithanga Sub- County. This EPZ that is going to be the first in Mount Kenya Region will be constructed on a 500 Acres Piece of Land, previously owned by Del Monte, but now under Murang’a County Government. The National Government has already released Ksh.495 Million for the first Phase of the proposed 5-Phase Industrial and Manufacturing Complex.

According to EPZ Authority, the Export Processing Zones Program’s Goal is to promote and facilitate Export-oriented Investments. The EPZ Program is designed to 3 key objectives:

1. Promotion and Diversification of Exports away from the traditional nature of Kenyan exports which were primarily raw agricultural exports.
2. Attracting new productive investments so as to stimulate domestic and foreign investment in export-oriented manufacturing, commercial and service activities through construction of zones and investment in new capital equipment.
3. Job Creation. EPZs are envisaged to generate new employment opportunities, directly in EPZs and indirectly through subcontracting, contract manufacturing and through sourcing of local raw materials and services.

Murang’a county has abundance of Agricultural raw material that include Avocados, Bananas, Tea, Coffee, Maize, Beans, Sorghum, Livestock products like Milk and Meat, Fruits and Horticultural Products like Mangoes, French Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Pawpaw, Tomatoes and Macadamia Nuts, Vegetables and Forestry Products. Each of these farm produce has a potential to support an Aggregation and Industrial Park and Agro-processing Industry for Value addition and Export. This will significantly boost the County’s Micro and Macro Economy by creating a World-class Agro-industrial Ecosystem to grow the Agro-Manufacturing Sector and enhance the Competitiveness of Agricultural Products from Murang’a. This will in turn create Jobs, reduce Post-harvest Losses and increase Income for Farmers through Value added Exports that earn more Foreign exchange. It will also help Synergize the whole Chain of Production from Farmers, Researchers, Processors, Exporters, Industrial Experts and the Government.

Once fully developed, this Manufacturing Hub is expected to create approximately 50,000 Direct Jobs and 250,000 Indirect Jobs in the supporting sectors such as Farming, Logistics, Trade among others. The ongoing first Phase of this Industrial Project is expected to create 3000 Direct Jobs according to Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary in charge of Trade, Industry and Investments, Hon. Salim Mvurya who laid the Foundation Stone on August 27, 2024, accompanied by Murang’a Governor, H.E Irungu Kang’ata. The ongoing Construction Works have already provided Employment to Hundreds of People from Murang’a.

The Areas around the EPZ will benefit from a multiplier effect through Urbanization. This will spur the Local Economy via Real Estate, Trade, Construction, Health, Education among other expected Developments. This Industrial Hub is expected to increase Export Earnings by Ksh. 1.7 Billion by 2026 and increase local Purchase of Raw Materials and Forward-Backward Linkages by Ksh. 1 Billion by 2026, according to the EPZ Authority.