- The park, she said, will be put up on a 250-acre piece of land which was recently repossessed from land grabbers.
- She said the county has the necessary infrastructure to support investment in manufacturing and agro-processing.
Governor Anne Waiguru has said she is committed to seeing Kirinyaga become the next industrial hub in the region.
Waiguru hailed President William Ruto for his efforts in securing Sh120 billion from the South Korean government to finance the establishment of the industrial park and other development projects in the country.
Other key sectors set to benefit from the financial support are health, agricultural programmes, affordable housing infrastructure and urban transport.
The governor said the growing town which is rapidly graduating into a small industry city will host agro-processing plants, hospitals, schools, hotels, low-housing units and sports complexes.
She said the upcoming Sagana industrial park will be a game changer as it will attract investors and open up diverse opportunities.
The park, she said, will be put up on a 250-acre piece of land which was recently repossessed from land grabbers.
“We intend to put up an industrial park and sports facility. The land is located close to critical supporting infrastructures such as the railway station and the Kenol-Marua dual carriage,” she said.
“We look forward to partnering with private investors in the implementation of the industrial park master plan.”
The governor spoke on Friday while opening the Kirinyaga business and agricultural expo in Mwea.
She said the county has the necessary infrastructure to support investment in manufacturing and agro-processing.
“The county has many opportunities that can be exploited by investors who want to venture into manufacturing and agro-processing,” Waiguru said.
“The county’s critical infrastructure has greatly improved.”
She said the upcoming Kenol-Marua dual carriage that traverses the county is a game changer as long as the investment is concerned.
Waiguru said that a proposed hydropower project that the county will be implementing will lead to a reduced cost of production for the manufacturers.
She said her administration has also been keen on supporting residents' increase in agricultural productivity and adding value to their produce to earn more money.
Waiguru said that the expo was a noble initiative that allows the county to showcase what it is made of.
“This expo brings together different stakeholders, all showcasing their products and services and there’s something of interest to everybody,” she said.
“It is an opportunity to create networks, share experiences, and learn from one another to broaden business and agricultural perspectives.”
She said it was also an opportunity for upcoming entrepreneurs to get exposed to and interact with leading industry players, learn from them and get exposure to current trends and technologies.
“We recognise that large companies and SMEs play a critical role in our county’s socio-economic development. We are therefore committed to providing a conducive business environment for investors,” she said.
The governor said the county government has been keen on improving major towns through the construction of cabro car parks, pavement and construction of markets and the installation of street lights.
“We are very passionate about the promotion of agribusiness, value addition and manufacturing and we will put up a tomato factory that will enable our farmers to add value to their products,” she said.
“Rice husks factory will be put up to utilise the byproducts of rice among other crops, to manufacture furniture boards, which presents an investment opportunity in the carpentry and furniture industry.”
Exhibitors present hailed the business and agricultural expo saying it will promote the growth of locally grown produce and attract investors.
"This is a very crucial exhibition that is meant to showcase what Kirinyaga produces. Through this we will market our products and tell our stories through our goods and services,” Peter Karanja said.
Charles Njiru Mkombozi rallied the government to expand the rice market across the country to enable rice farmers within the county to sell their produce.