President William Ruto has announced a bold plan to ensure that all crops produced in Kenya are processed within the country as part of the government’s broader strategy to promote value addition, reduce raw exports, and create jobs.
Speaking during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui County, President Ruto emphasized that Kenya must shift from exporting raw materials to exporting finished products, underscoring the government’s commitment to industrialization.
“We want every crop grown in Kenya to be processed in Kenya. We must stop exporting raw materials and start exporting finished products,” said the President.
As part of this initiative, President Ruto revealed that the government is laying the foundation for industrial growth by establishing special economic zones focused on textile and agricultural processing.
He said that these zones are expected to create thousands of jobs and strengthen the manufacturing sector.
To support market access, he revealed that the government has also entered into trade agreements with various countries to secure international buyers for Kenyan-made products.
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In collaboration with county governments, the national administration is also setting up County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) to link farmers directly with processors and enhance market efficiency.
Additionally, in a bid to boost food security and climate resilience, President Ruto announced plans to construct 50 mega dams and bring more than 2 million acres of land under irrigation, noting that Kenya can no longer rely solely on rainfall for agricultural production.
“We are investing in large-scale irrigation because our food security must not be left at the mercy of rain,” he said.
The announcements form part of the government’s ongoing efforts to transform Kenya into a manufacturing and food-secure nation, in line with its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
By Obegi Malack
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