The Wajir County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP), one of the flagship projects under the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), is nearing completion and is expected to revolutionise livestock value chains by promoting local processing of meat, leather, and dairy products in one of Kenya's leading pastoral economies.
According to Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr Raymond Omollo, the project represents a transformative investment aimed at opening up historically marginalised regions to industrial growth, value addition, and economic opportunity.
The industrial park was launched in 2023 as a joint initiative between the National Government and the County Government of Wajir, with both levels of government contributing equally to its development.
Strategically located at the heart of key trade corridors, the facility is designed to unlock the vast potential of Wajir's livestock and agro-pastoral sector.
The project forms part of the wider national County Aggregation and Industrial Parks programme, which currently covers 34 counties across Kenya.
Wajir is among the counties participating in the second phase of the initiative, which includes the rollout of 16 additional industrial parks aimed at driving county-level industrialisation.
Once operational, the park is expected to fundamentally change the way livestock products are marketed and processed in the region. Rather than relying primarily on the sale of live animals, producers will be able to access facilities that support local processing and value addition, enabling them to earn higher returns from meat, leather, and dairy products.
The industrial park incorporates modern cold storage and warehousing facilities that will help reduce post-harvest losses and improve the quality and shelf life of livestock products. These facilities are expected to strengthen supply chains and create opportunities for producers to access larger domestic and regional markets.
Officials say the project will also create thousands of jobs across multiple sectors, including processing, transportation, logistics, packaging, marketing, and support services. The employment opportunities are expected to benefit youth, women, and local entrepreneurs while stimulating economic activity throughout the county.
A key objective of the project is to empower livestock producers by improving market access and reducing exploitation by intermediaries. Through aggregation centres, herders will be able to pool livestock and dryland agricultural produce, grade products according to market standards, and sell directly to buyers.
This approach is expected to increase bargaining power for producers, improve pricing transparency, and enhance incomes across the entire value chain.
The park's infrastructure includes ready-to-use industrial sheds designed for investors and micro, small, and medium enterprises seeking to establish processing and manufacturing operations. The facility also features specialised cooling systems, reliable power infrastructure, and an independent water supply system to support uninterrupted industrial activity.
Dr Omollo noted that the project aligns with President William Ruto's vision of transforming counties into engines of industrialisation, innovation, value addition, and job creation.
The President has previously described the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks programme as one of the most consequential economic transformation initiatives under the BETA agenda, aimed at shifting Kenya from a consumption-based economy to a production-driven economy.
Nationally, progress on the programme has continued to gather momentum, with 10 out of the first 18 industrial parks already completed and ready to receive investors.
In Wajir, leaders and stakeholders believe the industrial park will catalyse broader economic transformation by attracting private investment, stimulating enterprise growth, and strengthening regional trade networks.
The project is particularly significant for a county whose economy is heavily dependent on livestock production.
By creating opportunities for local processing and manufacturing, the park is expected to retain more value within the county and generate greater economic benefits for local communities.
The State Department for Internal Security and National Administration continues to support implementation of the project by coordinating agencies, facilitating oversight, and ensuring a secure environment for both the infrastructure and surrounding communities.
As construction enters its final stages, expectations are high that the Wajir County Aggregation and Industrial Park will become a major centre for livestock processing and industrial activity, positioning the county as a key contributor to Kenya's growing manufacturing and agro-processing sector while opening new pathways for trade, investment, and sustainable economic growth.