Garissa Governor Nathif Jama Adam has welcomed the decision by the national government to include Garissa County among the first eight counties set to benefit from the operationalisation of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs), describing the development as a major opportunity to unlock the county’s economic potential.
The announcement follows a meeting chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, where it was confirmed that eight counties — Garissa, Wajir, Kirinyaga, Meru, Embu, Busia, Migori and Kisii — have identified flagship products for their respective industrial parks as preparations for commissioning gather momentum.
For Garissa, the CAIP will focus on sunflower oil production, positioning the county to move beyond the sale of raw agricultural produce and embrace value addition, agro-processing and manufacturing.
Governor Nathif has welcomed the development, noting that the industrial park presents an important avenue for creating jobs, expanding markets for farmers and strengthening local economic activity.
The selection of sunflower oil as Garissa’s flagship value chain could also provide an opportunity to stimulate agricultural production while establishing a reliable market for farmers and encouraging investment in agro-processing.
The Deputy President said the Government is committed to supporting the eight counties to establish industrial hotspots capable of contributing significantly to Kenya’s manufacturing agenda.
He said the first eight CAIPs are expected to be commissioned progressively, with the Meru facility targeted for commissioning within September and the other seven expected to follow before the end of the year.
The CAIP programme is anchored on the need to connect agricultural production with industrialisation by ensuring farmers have reliable markets while industries access sufficient raw materials.
For Garissa, the sunflower oil project therefore represents more than an industrial facility. It could become a catalyst for a broader agricultural value chain, linking farmers, processors, traders, transporters and other businesses.
Governor Nathif’s positive reception of the project underscores the county administration’s interest in partnerships that can translate national investments into tangible economic opportunities for residents.
As Kenya accelerates its industrialisation agenda, Garissa’s inclusion among the first counties to operationalise CAIPs gives the county a strategic opportunity to position itself as a centre for agro-processing and value addition in the region.
With the right support, investment and coordination between the national and county governments, the sunflower oil value chain could help diversify Garissa’s economy, create employment and increase incomes for local communities.
The development also aligns with the Government’s broader push to strengthen agriculture as the foundation for industrial growth, ensuring that farmers benefit from value addition rather than remaining suppliers of raw produce.