Principal Secretary for Industry, Dr. Juma Mukhwana, has publicly criticised Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya over the stalled construction of the county's industrial park. Speaking on Saturday, October 11, 2025, during an interview on the Ikuwekuwe Facebook page, PS Mukhwana expressed disappointment that the project in Namandala has not progressed beyond the foundation level, despite the Ministry of Trade and Investments allocating the full KSh 116 million for its construction and completion.

“I can go on record to state that we dispatched KSh 116 million to Trans Nzoia for the construction of the industrial park in Namandala, yet it has never gone past the foundation level,” Mukhwana stated.

Context of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs)

The County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) programme is a flagship initiative under the national government's Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry aims to increase manufacturing's contribution to Kenya's GDP from 7% to 15% by 2027 and to 20% by 2030. The initiative also seeks to boost exports from 10% of GDP to 30% by 2025. The main objective of CAIPs is to foster manufacturing and agro-industrial investments, enhance the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, create jobs, promote farm-level productivity, and increase farmers' incomes.

In the 2023/2024 financial year, the national and county governments agreed to implement CAIPs in 18 counties, including Trans Nzoia. Each county was initially expected to receive KSh 100 million as a conditional grant in FY 2023/24 from the national government. However, in May 2024, the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry announced the release of KSh 1.125 billion for phase one of the CAIPs, with each county receiving KSh 62.5 million under the first tranche.

Trans Nzoia's Industrial Park Project

The Trans Nzoia Aggregation and Industrial Park is planned for a 100-acre parcel of land in Namandala, Kapomboi ward, Kwanza Constituency. The project was initially projected to cost KSh 500 million, with the national government pledging KSh 250 million and the county government committing to match the amount. The groundbreaking ceremony for the park was anticipated in September 2023, with former Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Investment Moses Kuria expected to officiate. The park is intended to focus on value addition for agricultural produce such as maize, tea, coffee, milk, edible oil, and poultry, and is expected to create over 10,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Challenges and Unanswered Questions

PS Mukhwana's recent statement highlights a significant discrepancy between disbursed funds and on-the-ground progress. While the PS claims KSh 116 million was dispatched, the project remains at the foundation level. This raises critical questions regarding the utilisation of funds, project management, and accountability within the Trans Nzoia County government. In August 2024, PS Mukhwana had informed the National Assembly Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives that the ambitious plan to establish industrial parks in 18 selected counties had been hindered by a lack of funds, with most projects still incomplete. He noted that while KSh 4.5 billion was allocated to the programme in the last financial year, only KSh 1.13 billion was released by the National Treasury.

The current status of the KSh 116 million specifically allocated to Trans Nzoia and the reasons for the lack of progress remain unclear. Governor Natembeya has previously highlighted his administration's commitment to establishing the County Aggregation and Industrial Park to eliminate middlemen and boost profits for local farmers.

What to Watch

This development is likely to fuel public debate on the execution of national and county government projects and the prudent use of public funds. Stakeholders will be keenly watching for a response from Governor Natembeya's administration, seeking clarity on the project's timelines, expenditure, and measures to ensure its completion. The national government's commitment to industrialisation through CAIPs underscores the importance of these projects for economic growth and job creation across Kenya. Further scrutiny into the implementation of these parks across other counties may also emerge.