By Robert Mutasi 
Interior and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has said the completion of the Eldoret Export Processing Zone (EPZ) marks a major milestone in Kenya’s push to transform into a producer and exporter of high-value commodities.
Speaking on the strategic investment in Uasin Gishu County, PS Omollo echoed the conviction held by President Williams Ruto that Africa, endowed with vast natural and human resources, can shift from being a consumer of imported goods to a competitive global producer.
“At the Eldoret Export Processing Zone, that conviction is taking shape in practice, as Kenya builds the industrial capacity to turn local resources into products for global markets,” Omollo said.
Located on 135 acres in Cherunya, Kapseret Constituency, the Eldoret EPZ is now complete and awaiting commissioning. Developed by the National Government, the facility is designed to make Eldoret City a major centre for export-oriented manufacturing, building on the region’s agricultural potential, skilled workforce and strong transport links.
The PS noted that the zone will anchor key value chains including agro-processing, apparel and textiles, while providing space for pharmaceuticals, BPO and IT-enabled services and cold-chain logistics.
Its proximity to Eldoret International Airport, rail and road networks, reliable power, Rivatex and the city centre, he said, gives investors efficient access to both raw materials and export markets.
The EPZ is also expected to directly benefit farmers by creating reliable industrial demand for crops such as avocados, coffee, macadamia nuts, passion fruits, oranges and maize.
The facility is projected to generate about 50,000 direct jobs and more than 250,000 indirect opportunities across agriculture, logistics, manufacturing and trade.
PS Omollo affirmed that the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration will continue to support a secure environment around such strategic investments.
“We will continue working with relevant agencies and local administration to safeguard businesses, workers, infrastructure and supply chains,” he said.