The government has launched the mapping and geo-location of industries in Nairobi County, an exercise that is aimed at transforming Kenya’s manufacturing sector through comprehensive data collection and evidence-based policy planning.
The exercise is being undertaken by the State Department for Industry in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Kenya Industry and Entrepreneurship Project (KIEP) and Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE).
State Department for Industry Principal Secretary (PS) Dr Juma Mukhwana described the initiative as a collaborative effort by the State Department for Industry aimed at establishing a comprehensive industrial directory to guide effective planning and policy making.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by Secretary Administration from State Department for Industry, Karanja Yora, Dr. Mukhwana lauded the launch of the Mapping and Geo-location of Industries and Development of Industrial Database and Directory for Kenya.
“This project represents a significant step toward mapping the industrial landscape of Nairobi and addressing the sector’s unique challenges through accurate, location-based data,” Dr. Mukhwana said.
The exercise will systematically collect data from industries operating across Nairobi County. It also aims to create a detailed, up-to-date database capturing the size, location, operational activities, capacity, employment levels, and challenges faced by manufacturers.
“In order to realize our industrialization aspirations especially within the framework of the Bottom-up Transformation Agenda (BETA), we must develop a comprehensive industrial database and directory,” the PS noted.
“Mapping and documenting the state of manufacturing will strategically position the sector for growth and competitiveness,” he added.
The exercise will integrate geospatial technologies to create a physical and digital directory of industries, geo-code industrial locations, and generate a detailed assessment report identifying opportunities for industrial expansion and development.
Dr. Mukhwana reiterated that industrialization plays a key role in Kenya’s economic development, job creation, and value addition, particularly as the country seeks to strengthen its position in the East African region and under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Our ability to design targeted interventions has long been hampered by fragmented or outdated data as the exercise will help close that gap and ensure government support is aligned with the real needs of our manufacturers from micro to large-scale industries,” Dr Mukhwana emphasized.
He further highlighted that the initiative supports the goals of Vision 2030, the BETA strategy, and the AfCFTA implementation frameworks by enhancing cluster development, infrastructure planning, industrial upgrading, and market access.
Dr. Mukhwana called on industry players to fully support the data collection exercise, emphasizing its long-term significance. “The data collected today will influence the decisions we make tomorrow that directly affect the business environment, access to finance, skills development and industrial growth,” he stated.
In his remarks, the Secretary Administration from State Department for Industry Karanja Yora, emphasized the urgency of the initiative, noting that it has been a long time since a similar civil exercise was conducted.
“We want to capture all the industries located in Kenya, within our boundaries, with an aim to include all sectors, ranging from small enterprises to large corporations, ensuring a holistic understanding of the industrial ecosystem in the region,” Yora stated
Yora added that the cost of the survey remains uncertain as data collection is a dynamic process and it may encounter unforeseen issues that could alter the initial cost estimates.
Meanwhile KNBS Senior Manager Isaac Ndegwa, highlighted the variability of industrial establishments across the 17 sub-counties in Nairobi. “Different sub-counties have different rates of establishment, creating diverse industrial concentrations,” he noted, pointing out that areas like Baba Dogo might show higher industrial activity.
As data is gathered across Nairobi County, it will be processed concurrently with report writing, aided by collaboration with the Kenya Institute of Statistics. This efficient workflow aims to facilitate a swift analysis and reporting process.
By Rashid Naif and Kamau Daniel
