Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry (MITI) Lee Kinyanjui has assured Kenyans that the government will support local industries through friendly policies, noting that no country can develop without value addition and agro-processing.
Speaking in Kutus Kirinyaga County when he commissioned a new machinery plant for wheat milling at Joy Millers Limited, the CS added that the partnership between national and county governments to build County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIPs) and Export Processing Zones (EPZs) across the country will increase the number of local industries.
The CS hailed Joy Miller’s company for proving that indigenous industries can thrive.
“There is no country that ever developed without value addition and industrialization, that is the only secret. This company employs over 2000 people and this is a missing story in entrepreneurs where one can tell a story of moving from being a tout to the owner of a big company,” said Kinyanjui.
The CS challenged banks to reduce interest rates so that they can be able to sustain economies where everyone benefits.
He revealed that the ministry is in the process of developing a uniform procedure policy to reduce the number of licenses required in addition to the government’s move to remove taxation on importation of industrial equipment and machinery to allow more investors to set up industries.
“If you are importing equipment for any industry like milling, you will not pay any taxes. We have also funding from Kenya Development Corporation at interest rate of as low as 9%.”
Kinyanjui also encourages residents to consume the local product to boost the growth of such job-creating investments. Joy Millers is a maize flour processing company extending to wheat milling to meet demands of the market within Kenya and abroad.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru said that the installation of the new Joy Millers equipment with a capacity to mill 600 tonness of wheat a day, marked a landmark achievement in Kirinyaga’s transformation into an agro-industrial powerhouse. She praised the company’s sustained investment and reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to driving value addition, job creation, and farmer prosperity.
“It is both an honor and a privilege to witness yet another milestone in our journey of growth. This new equipment is not just a symbol of expansion but also a celebration of consistent success, local partnership, and the bold future we are building for our people,” she said.
Waiguru described the company as a vital player in Kirinyaga’s economic engine and a partner in its transformative journey. She emphasized the socio-economic ripple effects of the company’s growth which include employment of over 1,500 young people directly and thousands of others indirectly.
She affirmed that the county has the infrastructure and resources required for agro-industries to thrive, noting that such companies serve as bridges, connecting the rich agricultural output in the county to a global market eager for high-quality, value-added products and at the same time set a remarkable precedent, proving that homegrown businesses can scale and flourish in Kirinyaga.
“Kirinyaga remains the lifeblood of Kenya’s agricultural sector, with over half of our land dedicated to farming. As a county government, we have continually supported our farmers in diversifying and expanding their production to improve their livelihoods.” She said.
Waiguru added that her administration is welcoming more investment into the county through the upcoming Sagana EPZ & CAIPs which will host export processing zones, manufacturing plants, a golf course, and a four-star hotel as well as affordable housing, among others.
Muranga governor Irungu Kang’ata, who attended the event noted that apart from job opportunities the company has created a market for surplus maize produce in Muranga County. The Muranga county government initiated a program to supply certified seeds in addition to subsidized fertilizers from the national government hence producing a large quantity of maize, the county signed an MoU with a Kirinyaga-based miller to supply maize at Sh.3500 per 90 kg bag.
Kang’ata said through the MoU the farmers of Muranga have increased their income as they used to sell at Sh. 2200.
“In Murang’a County, by providing certified maize seeds and fertilizers, production for both consumption and commercial use. So we did marketing and the Joy Millers agreed to purchase our maize at Sh.3500 which change the dynamics of the market from the past where that we use to sell at 2200,” Kang’ata said
He noted industrialization is the only gate to development requesting the national government to create special kitty toward provision of cheap capital to potential investors in manufacturing sector and reduce regulations that is forcing some to apply for many licenses before establishment
The Joy Millers Ltd. proprietor, Julius Chomba, thanked both levels of government for according the company a conducive and stress-free environment for the business to thrive in the county.
By Mutai Kipngetich
