Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has unveiled plans to establish an industrial city that would be several times larger than Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).
Kang’ata said the project, which is expected to attract local and international manufacturers, will be anchored on industrialisation, land leasing and value addition to products produced in the county.
Speaking during the second Murang’a Investment Dinner in Nairobi, the governor said the proposed industrial city near Del Monte would occupy about 1,400 acres, compared with the approximately 350 acres occupied by Nairobi CBD.
“The vision of Murang’a is to create another city larger than Nairobi,” Kang’ata said, adding that the county was offering serviced industrial land to investors on long-term leases.
He said one acre was being offered at Ksh.7 million, against an estimated market value of about Ksh.35 million, with 60 per cent of the available land already booked.
Investors will be offered 99-year leases, according to the governor.
Kang’ata said the county had so far raised Ksh.120 million from activities at the Murang’a Industrial Park, with the revenue expected to support county programmes and infrastructure development.
He said manufacturing would be central to the county’s economic transformation, particularly through the processing and value addition of agricultural products such as avocado, tea, coffee, macadamia nuts and milk.
“I do not know of any country that has become rich without manufacturing,” Kang’ata said, arguing that increased local production would create jobs and improve the competitiveness of Kenyan products.
The industrial development programme was launched in 2025, initially targeting local investors. This year, the county has shifted its focus towards attracting investment in agro-industrial parks and manufacturing.
In June, the county issued 44 allotment letters for 99-year leases, with several companies already undertaking development works.
Among the firms allocated land are Absolute Healthcare Services, Top Pork, KenAgro Industries, Ashland Traders Limited, Pelican Metal and Joska Enterprises. Promotto and MEDS Health are also in the process of being onboarded.
County records indicate that 500 acres have been allocated to the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), while another 800 acres have been designated for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The EPZ section is managed by the Export Processing Zones Authority, with the county retaining leverage over 50 acres, equivalent to 10 per cent of the allocated land, under an earlier agreement.
The proposed SEZ will include Murang’a MediCity, light, medium and heavy industries, a technology and innovation hub, commercial facilities, a stadium and recreational areas.
The development plan also provides for a market, bus station, schools, housing, affordable housing and infrastructure, including roads, sewerage, water, internet and electricity.
The remaining land will be set aside for national and county government institutions.
Under the proposed investment framework, Murang’a County is expected to receive 10 per cent of corporate tax generated by businesses in the zone during their first 10 years of operation, rising to 15 per cent for the following decade and 30 per cent thereafter.
The Murang’a County Assembly is also considering legislation to establish an autonomous authority to oversee the industrial park and introduce county-specific incentives for investors.
