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Construction Industry in Laikipia Registers Growth

By Nahashon Maina
Construction industry in Laikipia has grown almost double in the last three years.
Investment in the sector, hit Kshs 4.5 billion in 2020 up from Kshs 3 billion in 2019 and Kshs
2.5 billion in 2018. The residential buildings took the chunk of this investment with Kshs 1.8 billion invested as appetite for residential space keep on growing, Laikipia Statistical Abstract 2021 indicates. Industrial segment is one of the areas witnessing interest among investors within
county as the number of industries and warehouses emerge. This can be attributed to efforts by the Laikipia Innovation and Enterprise Development Programme support model to SMEs towards industrialization. This can also be attributed to continued planning of urban centres and regeneration of small towns
under the Smart Towns Initiative. Data in the statistical abstract indicates that the industrial space increased from 1,696M3 in 2017 in 2020. The total investment in the
same period rose to Ksh 1.2 billion from Ksh 65 million in 2017.
The construction industry continues to be one of the leading employers in the county with
over 7,000 jobs. In 2020, the builders in the county consumed 3.07 million (50 kg) cement
bags bought from 213 outlets in the county. Growth in the construction industry is a key indicator of a performing economy. Projects such as malls, office blocks, holiday homes and estates also contributes to the improved performance of the sector as investors rush in to meet the demand for decent housing in urban centers across Laikipia.
In 2020, Unison Sacco signed a contract with Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company
(NAWASCO) a sewerage system on its 542 acres at a cost of Ksh 32 million. The Sacco is constructing a well-planned residential estate within Nanyuki town known as Taji Gardens. The partnership will ensure that the estate has utilities such as water, electricity and sewer system. Proper urban development will assist in solving sanitation issues while also offering conducive living conditions to tenants. With the return of the railways services, industries within Nanyuki will benefit from convenient and cheaper transportation of cargos out of
the county. Laikipia county is strategically placed at an intersection with some of mega projects by the national government driving the increased investments. To take advantage of the LAPPSET corridor, the county intends to establish serviced industrial zones in Rumuruti, Nyahururu and Nanyuki as it seeks out to position Laikipia as a logistic hub. For economic growth, the county is supporting enterprises to drive industrialization in Laikipia. The utilization of locally available resources can propel growth of industries that
attracts manufacturing investors. The county has been carrying out mineral mapping exercise and
laboratory test shows the county to have deposit. in iron ore and limestone. Limestone is the raw
materials used in the production of cement and the hope is that once exploration begins it will
low the cost in construction industry. Manufacturing sector is one area that the county is banking on to create wealth and employment opportunities through value chain linkages. The county is also upgrading 10 centers into smart towns to create an enabling environment for investors.

Kenyans Impressed By Laikipia’s Industrialization Model

By Muriithi John
Laikipia has demonstrated that it is possible for Kenya to become an industrialized nation by
2030. Chosen by the State Department Industrialization as the host of this year’s Africa Industrialization
Week, Laikipia clearly impressed top government officials and other agencies charged with the responsibility of driving the industrialization process with its practical SME growth model. “Kenya may not industrialize unless we make drastic changes. Not just to policy – which is wrong because it promotes imports of machines and tools. We must also match policy pronouncements with appropriate action, and at scale,” Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, a former assistant minister for industrialization said.
There was no question that Laikipia’s model is the path that the government agencies should follow
if they were truly committed to driving the industrialization process. “The Governor has shown passion in helping
these MSEs growth. I’ll consult the CS so that we
open a KIRDI (Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute) branch in here. We go where we are needed and where there is proof that our services are in dire need,” said Industrialization chief administrative secretary David Osiany.
Laikipia’s model is so far handholding 1,545 enterprises with a number of them ripe for graduation to the secondary manufacturing tier. These enterprises have so far created 22,000 jobs both
directly and indirectly. Through the Laikipia Innovation and Enterprise
Development Programme, the enterprises the enterprises get 360 degree business advisory services from 200 business development officers.
The county in partnership with several financial institutions has put together Kshs3.3 billion fund
from where local enterprises can access up to Kshs 4 million.
“The aim is to reach 5,000 businesses. If this is replicated in all the 47 counties, we will be achieving true industrialization,” Governor Ndiritu Muriithi told the guests. Kenya may not industrialize unless we make drastic changes. Not just to policy – which is wrong because it promotes imports of machines and tools- but by matching policy pronouncements with appropriate action, and at scale!

One of the main reasons for government existence is to create an enabling environment for
business to thrive.
As a proof that Laikipia is progressing well towards industrialization, the Ministry chose
Laikipia to be the venue for the Africa Industrialization Week. This helped in bringing together different bodies that should facilitate manufacturing in the country.
Top government officers agreed that the Laikipia model should be rolled out to the rest of the counties to realize an industrialized country. Some products produced in Laikipia have gone to the international market.
Industrialization PS Amb. Kirimi Kaberia insisted on the need to open and support industries where raw materials are and not transporting raw material to industries. Calling upon people to utilize Laikipia products, Amb. Kaberia gave an example of Mwireri Drier, which has a solution to aflatoxin. “We have in the past had some millers who could not buy Kenyan maize because it has aflatoxin which comes because of mishandling of the cereals. And here we are saying, pick
your maize, dry it in the right way and with that we will be able to increase not only value
but also shelf life,” said Amb. Kaberia. On his part PS State Department of Trade Amb. Johnson Weru said that time is now ripe for Kenyans to fully exploit all the available markets for local products.
“We have reached a certain stage in our development where we must go beyond our
boundaries. If you are able to take your products in neighboring countries, we have collapsed and still collapsing these markets in COMESA, CEDC, EAC and African Continental Free Trade Area,” said Amb. Weru. Amb. Weru insisted that the main reason for
having bodies of standard certification is to ensure the products comply to the standard
requirement of other countries for competitiveness.
“Our ambition is to produce what we are currently importing. That is why we have this day to give impetus and hope to our local manufacturers,” said Amb. Weru.
Governor Muriithi insisted on the need to put our money where our mouth is to realize true
development. We also need to believe in ourselves and the products produced within our
boarders. It is impossible to get out of poverty without industrializing.
Laikipia has high percentage mineral deposits that need to be exploited and enable the county to lower cost of production for the manufacturing industries. This will in turn help in achieving true independence. True independence comes from control of your means of production for the items you consume every day.

Dressing Africans with African Fabric Fashion

Judy Githogori is not your average tailor. She is a fashion designer set on making the world a better place through her love for fashion. Situated at Oljabet town, Laikipia county, Judy has a designing shop where she specializes in Ankara fabric. The reason for choosing this kind of fabric for her designs is to encourage Africanization among Kenyans. Her inspiration comes from showing that even Ankaras-popularly known as kitenge-can also be fashionable. Most Kenyans, especially the youths, have welcomed the western way of dressing and that is what she is trying to rectify. She started her business in 2017 after the contract to her employment ended. She chose Oljabet as her base of operation because it is her home town and the cost of living is low. Since it is quite a small town, she only uses it for production purposes. Her marketing strategies include; loyal customers who help publicize her designs, online marketing on Facebook and Jamaa Supermarket in Nyahururu town which acts as a middle man in selling her products. What makes her business stand out is that her clothes are trendier than the others in their locality. The designer has offered employment to a number of residents who help in navigating her day-to-day business in both temporary and contractual capacities.

As one of SMEs under the Laikipia Innovation and Enterprise Development Programme, Judy had the opportunity to promote her products in Mombasa during a recent marketing foray by the local stakeholders. The event aimed at promoting Laikipia economy gave her a platform to expose her products to a bigger population. She attributes her success to the Innovation and Enterprise Development programmes. “If it were not for the innovation programme, I would not have got some of the clients I have right now,” Judy says. The programme has helped her acquire exposure and expanded her business through more clientele. Her motivation comes from helping the less fortunate people from her community. She sponsors a couple of students where she pays for their school fees and buys them all the necessary items needed in schools. She says that the more sales she makes, the more she is able to give back to the society. Just like any other business, she experiences challenges such as unresponsive residents who have not yet grasped the aspect of fashion and Ankara culture. Her support system is quite varied, from her family to the county government.

She is a beneficiary of the Laikipia economic stimulus where the county government in conjunction with several banks help Laikipia businesses get back on their feet after being hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. Judy advises the youths to follow their dreams and for parents to be supportive in their children’s careers. She has been looked down upon because of the path she chose for a career since she is a university graduate. “If you are talented and passionate about something, pursue it. Your passion is what drives you because whether you are making money or not, you enjoy doing it,” Judy also credits her success to selfdiscipline and focus. Self-discipline encourages one to push themselves and focus enables devotion and commitment to a particular goal. She stands by two values: Integrity and Honesty. She believes that one’s word is their bond. “If you make a promise, make sure you see it through to the end. Stick to your word.” She has a vision of expanding her business not just countrywide but also worldwide with her aspiration being Zara. She also hopes to employ more staff, preferably ten or more permanent staff. She sticks to the phrase all work and no play makes jack a dull boy. In her off days she enjoys morning jogs and spending time with family. Even though her work is demanding, she finds the balance to take care of her mental and physical health. As Kenyans, we should promote our very own. We build ourselves. We should not go outside the country buying what we can produce for ourselves. Let us market our products among ourselves.”

Early Fruits of Marketing Destination Laikipia in Mombasa

A team of 20 tourists from Coast has already confirmed their visit to Laikipia before end of November 2021, exactly a week after Laikipia made a marketing blitz in the coastal city of Mombasa. Various stakeholders showcased Destination Laikipia’ Products in Mombasa. The county government facilitated a meeting between Laikipia Tourism Association and their Mombasa counterparts. During the Coast visit, the two associations agreed to partner and market the two regions for mutual benefits. “There were over 25 exhibitors from manufacturing and tourism. The ones who could not make it had sent their exhibitions of which eight are in the Laikipia Innovation and Enterprise Development Programme,” Trade and Tourism CECM Biwott Tirop said.

According to the CEC there were many successful presentations that wooed many people triggered the desire to visit Laikipia. Another team from Mombasa Tourism Association will be in Laikipia from November 17 to 21 this year hosted by Laikipia Tourism Association to come and sample what Laikipia has for easier marketing. “We will have a MoU with the Kenya Coast Tourism Association (KCTA) and Laikipia Tourism Association for joint marketing and developing the complementary tourist products. This will ensure that tourists on a say like 10 -day visit to the country may spend six days at the Coast and the rest in Laikipia,” said Biwott. Laikipia also managed to sell some of the products made in the county. Laikipia has the best beef in the region and thus the participants were given some samples of over 700 kg premium beef to have a taste. During one of the meetings, Kenya Airports Authority assured that the construction and renovation activities of Nanyuki Airstrip will be complete by mid-December this year. This will have a direct impact on the number of visitors coming to Nanyuki and Laikipia at large henceforth. At times tourists have been coming to Laikipia just for game drives. The coastal visit provided the tourism sector to showcase how to add value to that service. Now visitors can combine the drive with quality beef and mountain climbing.

Some may ask, why go to Mombasa and you want visitors to come to Laikipia? The CECM says it was an opportunity for Laikipia to tell her own story. “Statistics from tourism sector show that coast receives the second highest number of tourists from all over the world after Nairobi, and thus we had gone to take advantage of this. Also, the Coast tourism is well structured and we have a lot to learn from them,” said the CECM. He explains that the association has managed to lobby for chartered flights from across the globe to destination Mombasa. Currently, they are working with two airlines- one a weekly flight from the Netherlands, and another weekly from Czech Republic. The duo carriage way coupled with the railway will also enhance more tourists to come to Laikipia, especially those who like road trips. “I am confident that this December Laikipia will be full especially after the new market from the Coast region,” Biwott said. He urges the hospitality players to ensure their services are always up to standard to cater for the huge numbers expected.