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The Ministry of Trade and Investments has challenged county governments to compete in industrial production as a way of promoting the economy of the country.

Outgoing Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria asked governors to set targets for production of different goods and compete against each other. This, he said, would address many of the challenges that Kenya faces.

Kuria, who was transferred to the Public Service ministry in Wednesday’s Cabinet reshuffle, has been launching county aggregation and industrial parks in line with the government’s bottom-up transformation agenda. Investors are then invited to establish firms for production of goods.

On Wednesday, Kuria commissioned the construction of an aggregation park at Riwa in Rachuonyo North Sub-County in Homa Bay County after launching a similar one in Siaya last month.

Kuria said the industrial parks which offer a platform where several industries can be stationed and engage in production of different goods should be put to good use.

“Counties need to set targets for production of goods and compete among themselves. This is the only way they will be sustained,” he said.

Edible oil

According to the CS, most governors have a bad history of theft of funds and fights over political differences.

He told all county chiefs to now act on development.

“Leaders should unite for the sake of development. Politics should only be allowed when campaign season is near,” Kuria said.

The CS was accompanied by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Woman Representative Joyce Osogo and Karachuonyo MP Adipo Okuome at the launch of the county industrial park that measures 353 acres.

Homa Bay County will use the facility to exploit production of edible oil and cotton.

Already, farmers have expressed willingness to produce crops such as oil palm that will be used in the production of oil.

Other crops that will be processed at the park include sweet potato, pineapple and others.

Kuria said some investors have already shown willingness to set up firms at the park.

It includes an investor who wants to establish a cotton ginnery.

“Another investor wants to engage in fish production by making boats. It is an opportunity that the county government should take advantage of,” the CS said.

Kuria encouraged local investors to set up industries within counties.

He said some people have been establishing firms in foreign countries when Kenya has few people doing the same.

“With the industrial parks, there will be rural urban migration. People will also move from diaspora back to the country to invest,” Kuria said.

Wanga said the launch of the industrial park came at a time when her administration is finalizing the registration of farmers.

Homa Bay has registered more than 220,000 farmers.

Road project

Wanga said they will be supported to make them more productive.

“After registration, the farmers will get subsidised farm inputs to enable them realise maximum production,” the governor said.

Meanwhile she asked the contractor undertaking the project to consider local youths and women in provisions of labour.

She also called on the government to ensure roads to the industrial park are completed.

 It includes Ojijo Oteko Road where the contractor abandoned the site before completing the project.

Another key road that supports the park is Kanyadhiang-Pala- Kanidge- Kadel ring road.

 “If they are done, we will be sure that goods will move with ease in and out of the park,” Wanga said.