By Robert Manyara
Busia County, Kenya: Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development Chief Administrative Secretary, David Osiany has challenged County Governments to set aside acres of land as industrial development zones.
Addressing the press after a meeting with officers from the County Government of Busia led by Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi, the CAS said counties that have set aside land will benefit from many inherent opportunities.
” Nakuru County set aside 1000 acres in Naivasha as a special economic zone. Homa-Bay donated 200 acres and next week we are going to put an Export Processing Zone,” he noted.
Osiany said Busia County will benefit immensely once it identifies land for Industrial development as it did by donating 40 acres for the planned Sh1.5 billion Jumuhiya Market which he said will benefit over 3000 traders.
Adding “The market which is in partnership with the National Government, Trade Mark East Africa, and the East African Community will also help the youth through job creation and from economies of scale”.
He challenged the small-scale traders who engage in value addition for their products like honey, groundnuts, sismsim and many others to liaise with Kenya Industrial Estate and Kenya Industrial Research Institute to have their products tested and approved before they are allowed into the shelves.
“Traders should also take advantage of the Africa Continental Free Area in Uganda to market their products; the youths should also take advantage of loans offered by KIE to improve their livelihood” he said.
Deputy Governor H.E Moses Mulomi said over 800 acres of Nasewa land can be used for industrial development, noting that industrialization is key in promoting the county’s economy.
The Deputy Governor raised concerns over delays by some sugar companies to harvest cane and pay farmers, and give preference to middlemen who outsource their cane, urging the National Government to find an amicable solution.
Trade Executive Judith Maketso said lack of Rice Processing plant had forced Bunyala Rice Farmers to sell raw rice to Uganda businessmen at a paltry Ksh30 per kilogram.
