Murang’a Breaks Ground on 1,300-Acre Industrial Hub; Six Investors Launch Construction

The vision to transform Murang’a into a premier manufacturing hub officially took shape on March 3, 2026, as Investment Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan and Governor Irungu Kang’ata presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Murang’a Industrial Park. Located on 1,300 acres of land recently ceded by Del Monte Kenya Limited, the park is strategically positioned along the Thika-Kenol highway, offering prime connectivity for regional and international trade. The ceremony marked the immediate commencement of construction by six anchor investors, who were selected from a pool of 48 applicants following a rigorous vetting process. These "pioneer" firms represent the diverse industrial ecosystem Murang’a is building: Ashland Traders Limited: Constructing a factory to manufacture paving and building blocks, expected to employ over 200 people. KenAgro: Setting up a facility to process certified hybrid seeds and manufacture feed additives. Top Pork & KTDA: Establishing value-added processing factories to strengthen the agricultural value chain. Pharmaceutical Hub: The Ministry of Investment has specifically earmarked 500 acres of the park as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for pharmaceutical manufacturing, aimed at reducing Kenya's Sh150 billion annual medical import bill. The park is uniquely structured to maximize investor incentives, featuring an integrated Export Processing Zone (EPZ) on 500 acres and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on the remaining 800 acres. This model provides investors with ten-year tax holidays, duty exemptions on machinery, and streamlined customs procedures. Governor Kang’ata noted that the initiative has already secured over Sh57 million in direct revenue for the county and millions more in bank guarantees, which will be reinvested into local development programs. With a Chinese investor also slated to set up a factory soon following recent bilateral trade deals, Murang’a is positioning itself as a "new China" within Kenya. By creating direct backward linkages to local farmers, the park aims to ensure that the county’s rich produce—including avocados, macadamia, and coffee—is processed locally, ensuring higher returns for the community and thousands of new industrial jobs for the youth. Why This Matters Value Addition: Shifts Murang’a from a raw material producer to a value-added manufacturing center. Job Creation: The first six factories alone are expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs in Maragua and beyond. Healthcare Security: The 500-acre pharma-zone is a critical pillar of Kenya's national health self-sufficiency strategy. Fiscal Incentives: The integrated SEZ/EPZ framework makes Murang’a one of the most cost-competitive investment destinations in East Africa. Opportunity Sector Pharmaceuticals, Agro-industrial Logistics, Construction Materials, Warehousing, Real Estate (Employee Housing). Follow @MotoSeenAfrica for more updates on business, trade, investments, opportunities and economic growth across Africa. Moto Seen Africa — Africa’s View, Seen Clearly. #MurangaIndustrialPark #IrunguKangata #ManufacturingKE #AgroProcessing #PharmaHub #BuyKenyaBuildKenya #Industrialization #KenyaBusiness