In a bold move to supercharge Kenya’s economic transformation, the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA), alongside the Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Industry’s Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (MITI SAGAs), has embarked on a groundbreaking mission: operationalizing County Aggregation Industrial Parks (CAIPS) across 13 counties. This ambitious initiative aims to unlock Kenya’s untapped export potential by empowering local communities, driving industrialization, and positioning the nation as a global trade powerhouse.

A Collaborative Drive for Economic Empowerment

KEPROBA, in partnership with MITI SAGAs and trade support institutions, is spearheading site visits to assess the readiness of CAIPS projects in their first phase. These parks are designed to serve as centralized hubs for aggregating, processing, and adding value to locally produced goods from agricultural produce to artisanal crafts ensuring they meet international standards and access lucrative global markets. By decentralizing industrial growth, the initiative promises to uplift rural economies, create jobs, and reduce post-harvest losses, directly aligning with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

First Phase Counties: Paving the Way for Progress

The inaugural site visits target 13 counties poised to become catalysts for regional trade:

1. Coastal & Northern Regions: Kwale, Garissa
2. Western Kenya: Migori, Kisii, Homabay, Kisumu, Busia, Bungoma
3. Rift Valley & Central: Uasin Gishu, Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga
4. Eastern: Machakos

Each county’s unique resources whether Kwale’s cashews, Meru’s miraa, or Kisii’s soapstone will be harnessed to build localized value chains, fostering competitiveness and sustainability.

Why CAIPS Matter: From Grassroots to Global

County Aggregation Industrial Parks (CAIPS) are more than infrastructure projects; they are engines of inclusive growth. By equipping farmers and SMEs with modern processing facilities, storage solutions, and market linkages, CAIPS will:

1. Boost Export Readiness: Transform raw materials into high-value products for export.
2. Empower Local Entrepreneurs: Provide training and technology to scale businesses.
3. Attract Investment: Position counties as attractive destinations for domestic and foreign investors.

The CAIPS project underscores Kenya’s commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its vision to become a middle-income economy. By decentralizing industrial activity, the government aims to reduce regional disparities, stimulate innovation, and ensure every county contributes to national GDP. Collaboration with MITI SAGAs will further streamline policies, funding, and technical support to accelerate park operationalization.

The Road Ahead

As site visits progress, stakeholders remain optimistic about the ripple effects of CAIPS. Future phases will expand to additional counties, creating a networked industrial ecosystem across Kenya. With counties at the helm of their economic destinies, the nation moves closer to realizing its ambition of becoming Africa’s export hub.