The industrial parks were unveiled as a flagship Kenya Kwanza programme aimed at addressing widespread unemployment, stimulating rural industrialisation, and empowering small-scale manufacturers across the country.
Marketed as a game changer for local economies, the project was expected to create thousands of jobs while positioning counties as hubs for value addition and manufacturing.
In 2023, senior government officials led by then Trade CS Moses Kuria embarked on nationwide tours, launching the construction of the parks in several counties.
The launches were accompanied by strong political messaging, with assurances that the facilities would be completed within months and operational shortly thereafter. Billions of shillings were allocated to the project, raising public expectations.
However, nearly three years later, many of the industrial parks remain incomplete, deserted, or barely functional.
Reports indicate that approximately Sh5 billion was spent, yet the promised economic impact has failed to materialise.
In several counties, construction stalled shortly after groundbreaking ceremonies, leaving behind idle structures now described by locals as “monuments of wasted public funds.”
Kuria has now found himself at the centre of scrutiny, with critics questioning his role in the conception, rollout, and supervision of the project.
While no formal charges have been announced against him, pressure is mounting for accountability, especially as Parliament and oversight bodies intensify demands for explanations on how the funds were utilised.
The scandal has also cast a shadow over President Ruto’s administration, with opposition leaders citing the industrial parks as evidence of poor planning and weak implementation of flagship projects.
Tags
People