Nakuru County Government is implementing a raft of strategies to enhance the devolved unit’s ease of doing business, starting with reforms in the tax regime through harmonisation of fees and elimination of non-tariff barriers to trade.
Governor Susan Kihika indicated that her administration has been working with the County Assembly in reviewing a multiplicity of levies and taxes that are affecting the devolved unit’s intra-county and inter-county trade, thereby discouraging investments while raising prices for the end consumer.
Kihika indicated that Nakuru is regarded as a key food basket in Rift Valley that also seeks to lure investors to its vibrant agricultural sector to add value to its products and gain direct sales of its farm produce to foreign markets, including East African countries.
The county is one of the leading producers of potatoes, carrots, milk and vegetables, among other crops.
Kihika spoke at the Kingdom Business Expo and Conference 2026, where she was chief guest. The event that brought together various business enterprises was organised by the Kingdom Seekers Church.
She stated that the county has established a Sh100 million Wezesha Fund, a low-interest credit facility specifically designed to support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Saccos and organised business groups.
The governor called upon business people to apply for the low-interest facility as groups and companies, while reiterating her administration’s commitment to making Nakuru an attractive destination for investors.
“We are solidifying our position as a prime investment destination through the creation of a conducive environment for business growth. The vibrant economy and deliberate policies to attract investors continue to bear fruit,” she said.
The county, noted Kihika, was further committed to averting situations where businesses incur costs in multiple permits and licenses over and above the single business permit.
“We are taking deliberate steps to reduce the cost of doing business and position Nakuru as an essential destination for local and foreign investments. As a county government, we are committed to actively pursuing interventions that will make Nakuru the economic powerhouse of the region, thereby making it the destination of choice where trade and investment thrive,” said the Governor.
Kihika indicated that her administration had identified its trade and investment prospects, adding that it was pursuing active partnerships to unlock its potential.
The Governor indicated that traders across the country are set to benefit from easier business operations with the implementation of the County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Act, 2024.
“This crucial legislation aims to standardise licensing procedures across all 47 counties, eliminating the current inconsistencies and bureaucratic hurdles that often hinder business growth. The State Department for Investment Promotion (SDIP), in collaboration with the Council of Governors (COG) and key stakeholders, is currently developing comprehensive regulations and guidelines for the effective implementation of the Act,” explained the governor.
Kihika pointed out that the successful implementation of the County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Act, 2024, will be a crucial step towards creating a more business-friendly environment in Kenya and unlocking the country’s economic potential.
The Governor affirmed that the new legislation was targeted to improve the working environment for business people and traders at the county level by creating an equal and efficient means of paying for licenses across all counties.
She pointed out that attracting and retaining investments entailed businesses partnering with the county government to enhance development through building infrastructure, restoration of natural resources and offering productive jobs in order to raise the living standards for every resident throughout the devolved unit.
Kihika noted that economic survey findings by various institutions show Nakuru is fast rising to become the most preferred investment destination for local and international investors.
It is projected that the county has an economic potential worth Sh200 billion in agricultural value addition, manufacturing, geothermal exploration, tourism and real estate.
Results of a survey released by the Institute of Economic Affairs show it is easier to start a business in Nakuru town compared to five other populous urban areas.
Economists attributed this to the mainly reduced tax burden that has made it more attractive to investors. The study gave the county an overall score of 89 in the tax sub-cluster, followed by Eldoret (78) and Machakos (67).
The bottom three in the category were Kisumu (64), Nairobi and Mombasa at 56 and 54, respectively. The county saw its land prices rise by an average of 12.7 per cent in 2017, according to the 2018 County Land Price Report.
The governor pledged that as a move towards transforming Nakuru into a more economically vibrant city that will rival Nairobi, the county administration has embraced smart master planning.
This, she added, involves properly designating outlying areas for new industrial locations, residential estates for both higher and middle classes and other institutions and provision of supporting infrastructure.
Nakuru is also banking on geothermal energy to bolster its economy.
In Naivasha’s Olkaria area, the state-controlled Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is putting up several power plants to produce more energy. And in Menengai, 20 kilometres from Nakuru Town, the State-owned Geothermal Development Corporation (GDC) has completed drilling several geothermal wells.
The geothermal steam wells at the crater have a capacity of 105 megawatts with the potential to attract easy ‘green’ funding for new investments.
Investors are expected to tap into areas such as large-scale greenhouses, meat processing plants, and the manufacture of geothermal gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, among other areas.
The national government in August 2019 gazetted 1,000 acres of land at Satellite near Maai Mahiu as an industrial zone which will host the much-awaited Naivasha Industrial Park.
Lanet Airport, once completed, will facilitate the direct export of produce to Europe and other global markets.
Other key projects in Nakuru include KenGen Textile City Park, Lord Egerton Agri-city and Kabarak University Smart City.
The county has also been working to attract investors, and one industry which appears to have heeded this call is the hospitality sector.
New modern markets, hospitals, hotels and resorts have set up base in the county in the past few years.
Road infrastructure has also improved, with the construction of two interchanges along the Nairobi-Nakuru-Eldoret highway, which have spruced up Nakuru town. The interchanges at Nyahururu and Njoro turnoffs are already complete and in use.
Boasting tourism sites like Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru National Park, Hell’s Gate National Park, Lord Egerton Castle, Mount Longonot National Park and Crescent Island, among others, Naivasha and Nakuru towns are also sailing on their global fame as conference centres, with companies flying in to hold global meetings, creating an insatiable demand for new hospitality facilities which can cater to large delegations of people.
By Jane Ngugi
