Murang'a Industrial Park Gains Momentum with 99-Year Leases to Six Firms

Six companies have received 99-year leases for plots at the Murang’a Industrial Park. The site occupies former Del Monte Kenya Limited land in Gatanga. Construction of factories is already underway at some locations.

The park covers about 1,300 acres. It is designed for both export-oriented and domestic market enterprises. Five hundred acres form an Export Processing Zone while the rest is a Special Economic Zone.

Governor Irungu Kang’ata handed over the lease documents to investors. He described the industrial park as central to the county’s plan for value addition and job creation. The governor toured the site with the British High Commissioner to Kenya.

The county held an investment conference in June 2025. It then issued calls for applications that drew 48 interested parties. Vetting led to approval of 27 investors who are at different stages of setting up operations.

About 55 percent of the land has been booked so far. County officials plan another round of applications for the remaining portion. The process aims to fill the park steadily with suitable projects.

The county government has collected Sh240 million from the investors already committing to the site. These funds will support various obligations including intern absorption, teacher payments and infrastructure development within the park.

Companies that received leases include Absolute Healthcare Services, Top Pork, Kenagro Industries, Ashland Traders Limited, Pelican Metal and Joska Enterprises. Two more investors are still completing paperwork.

Kenagro Industries is building a sunflower oil processing plant and an animal feed additives facility. Ashland Traders has started work on a cabro manufacturing plant. Production at the cabro unit is expected within weeks.

The leases give investors security for long-term operations. One director noted that the 99-year term will help secure additional funding for factory expansion.

The park combines Export Processing Zone and Special Economic Zone frameworks. Government teams are building six godowns inside the facility to support incoming investors.

Projects at the site span agro-processing, healthcare, commercial activities and manufacturing. Officials see the development turning Murang’a into a regional industrial centre with strong links to local farmers.

The initiative reflects a push for agro-processing that creates backward linkages with agriculture. Such connections are expected to strengthen value chains and expand the county revenue base through new economic activity.