Preparations by Murang’a County Government to host its first investment conference cum major investors’ conference are on top gear.
The conference is aimed at attracting multi-billion investments and unlocking Muranga as an industrial hub.
The conference will be held on June 13 and 14, and is targeting processors in agribusiness and manufacturers with the objective of strengthening the county’s economy and creation of jobs.
Speaking on Wednesday, when the county government played host to the British High Commissioner to Kenya Neil Wigan, Governor Irungu Kangata noted that the visit was aimed at exposing the various opportunities available to investors from the United Kingdom through their embassy.
“The Idea is to invite private capital into various opportunities available in the county in manufacturing and recycling,” he said noting: “One of our key investment opportunity area is the Exports Processing Zone that is being constructed on 500 acres along Thika Kenol highway and is currently 70 percent complete and will be functional in three months.”
Kang’ata said the county’s proximity to Thika town and Nairobi city gives it an advantage as it eases transportation of products for exportation.
Other areas key for investment opportunities include the County Aggregation Industrial Park, the Gikono Landfill, the Murang’a County Creameries Cooperative Union, Small and Medium Enterprises parks, the Mariira Farm Kenyatta Agricultural Training Centre, and the Mukurwe Wa Nyagathanga cultural site.
“Our expectation is that the UK High Commissioner can influence multinational corporations that can consider coming to Murang’a,” noted Kanga’ata as he underscored the role played by industries in creation of jobs and strengthening the economy.
The governor said the county is endowed agriculturally, making it ideal for investors in the agribusiness sector, as well as availability of land and existence of investment friendly policies.
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“The county is the leading small scale tea exporter, contributing nine percent of the country’s exports and earned Sh17.5 billion last year from the produce, “he said adding that the region also produces about 32 percent of Kenya’s avocado output, that earned local farmers Sh4.2 billion in 2024 and also produces about 85 million litres of milk every year.”
“The County is also a top macadamia nuts, bananas, and mangoes, and we are second in coffee production from Kirinyaga,” Kangáta said.
He noted that enhanced industrialization will complement efforts being made by the county to boost earnings by connecting producers to processors. “Our maize production is also now doubled, but to sustain these sectors, we have to move to value addition,” he added.
Governor Kangata revealed that the county had already seen a number of investors from the United States and China who had expressed interest. “The investment conference will help expose the county to many more as it will create a forum for the county to outline the available investment opportunities,” he said.
The Mitubiri landfill constructed by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services Improvement Project (NAMSIP) at the Gikono area that has since been handed over to the county government and is set to become operational soon is also part of the investment opportunity.
The landfill has the capacity to handle 390 metric tonnes of waste daily and creates an opportunity for private plants to recycle the waste and produce biogas, among other things. “We will be partnering with private companies in running the facility to maximize its benefits. The biogas produced can even be piped to locals at a small cost,” he said.
The British High Commissioner, on his part, said the visit enabled him to see firsthand the opportunities available in the county and that there were huge opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, and manufacturing.
“I am impressed by what the county government is doing, as this will create more opportunities for the people of Murang’a” said Envoy Wigan.
The county later organized a pre-conference luncheon in partnership with Kenya Development Corporation and the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry that brought together government officials, investors, agribusiness leaders, development financiers and trade stakeholders
