Murang’a Governor unveils plan for industrial city bigger than Nairobi CBD
Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has outlined plans to establish a vast industrial and commercial city in the county that he says could ultimately be larger than Nairobi’s central business district (CBD).
Kang’ata said the proposed development, centred on the Murang’a Industrial City near Del Monte, is intended to attract international manufacturers, create jobs and transform the county into a major industrial and investment hub.
Speaking at the second Murang’a Investment Dinner in Nairobi, the governor said the planned industrial city covers about 1,400 acres, compared with the approximately 350 acres occupied by Nairobi’s CBD.
“The vision of Murang’a is to create another city larger than Nairobi. The Nairobi CBD sits on 350 acres. Now our industrial city is 1,400 acres; therefore, we will have a bigger city if our dream is realised,” Kang’ata said.
The project is being developed around industrial, commercial, residential and public-service facilities, with the county seeking to attract investors through long-term land leases.
Kang’ata said investors would be able to obtain planned industrial land on 99-year leases, with the county offering land near Del Monte at about KSh7 million per acre.
“The main investment is the industrial city near Del Monte, where we are giving one acre at KSh7 million. The true value is about KSh35 million per acre. It’s planned and secure, and 60 per cent is already booked,” he said.
According to county records cited at the investment forum, the wider development includes land earmarked for an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The county says 500 acres have been allocated to the EPZ, which is managed by the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), while 800 acres have been designated for the SEZ.
The proposed SEZ is expected to include a 75-acre Murang’a MediCity, industrial areas covering light, medium and heavy manufacturing, a technology and innovation hub, a commercial hub, a stadium and recreational facilities.
The plans also provide for a market, bus station, schools, housing, affordable housing and infrastructure including roads, sewerage, water, internet and electricity.
The county says the remaining land will be used by national and county government institutions.
Manufacturing at the heart of the plan
Kang’ata has placed manufacturing at the centre of his economic strategy, arguing that increased industrial production could help create employment while increasing the value of agricultural products produced in the county.
“I do not know of any country that has become rich without manufacturing. It is in the interest of Murang’a and Kenya to create more manufacturing jobs so that when we go to the world market our products are more competitive and create better value,” he said.
The county is seeking investment in industries linked to some of Murang’a’s major agricultural products, including avocados, tea, coffee, macadamia nuts and milk.
The investment programme was launched in 2025, initially focusing on attracting local investors. This year, the county has placed greater emphasis on agro-processing, value addition and industrial development.
Investors already allocated land
The county says the project has already moved beyond the planning stage, with 44 allotment letters issued in June for 99-year leases and several investors beginning development work.
Companies listed by the county as having received allocations include Absolute Healthcare Services, Top Pork, KenAgro Industries, Ashland Traders Limited, Pelican Metal and Joska Enterprises.
Promotto and MEDS Health are among the companies reportedly undergoing the process of joining the development.
Kang’ata said activities at the Murang’a Industrial Park had already generated KSh120 million for the county, providing additional revenue for government programmes and infrastructure.
The county also expects to receive a share of corporate tax generated by businesses operating within the designated development. Under the arrangements outlined by the county, its share would be 10 per cent during the first 10 years of operations, 15 per cent for the following decade and 30 per cent thereafter.
Proposed authority to oversee industrial park
The Murang’a County Assembly is currently considering legislation that would establish an autonomous authority to oversee the industrial park and introduce additional county-specific investment incentives.
The proposed development therefore extends beyond an industrial estate, with the county’s plans incorporating manufacturing, healthcare, technology, commerce, housing, transport and public infrastructure.
Whether the ambitious vision ultimately develops into a city larger than Nairobi’s CBD will depend on the pace of investment, infrastructure delivery and the completion of the planned developments.
For now, Kang’ata is pitching Murang’a as an emerging industrial destination, with the county seeking to use long-term land leases and agro-industrial investment to reshape its economic base.
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