State Invites Bids for Constructions of Industrial Parks

Following the release of a procurement notice soliciting bids from contractors by the Ministry of Trade and the Council of Governors plans to build aggregation and industrial parks across 25 counties have begun.

National Contractors who are interested must submit their bids by July 21 and include a Bid Bond for Sh9 million as a guarantee.

Bid security is intended to shield the contracting party from financial harm in the event that the successful bidder defaults on their contractual commitments.

The parks will be constructed in a number of counties, including Baringo, Kisumu, Wajir, Samburu, Nyeri, Nyandarua, and Kisii, at a cost of 500 million Shillings apiece.

Bomet, Elgeyo Marakwet, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kericho, Kilifi, Kitui, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Mandera, Narok, Nyandarua, Taita Taveta, Tharaka Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Vihiga, and Wajir are other counties targeted in the initial phase of the program.

“CAIPS are clusters of independent aggregation (collection) centres that will be located in each county within proximity to production areas to serve farmers and primary producers through collection, storage and storing, and even primary processing and value addition,” read the notice.

According to the tender notice, each county aggregation and industrial park must include a minimum of four 4,000 square metre production sheds, which will distribute manufacturing capacity among the 47 counties.

Additionally, a 4,000 square metre aggregation centre with a cold storage facility will be built to reduce post-harvest losses.

Moses Kuria, the Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Industrialization, has said that the national government will provide 50% of the total, with the devolved units anticipated to cover the other 50%.

Construction, he said, would take place in two stages, the first of which would be prioritised for counties that had received their allotment on time and on a first-come, first-served basis.

The move, according to the CS, aims to increase agricultural productivity by giving farm products more value before they are sold domestically and abroad. This will also help to reduce post-harvest losses for perishable goods.

“Through CAIPS, the government will support the establishment of industrial ventures through the construction of industrial parks, and disbursement of research and development grants. In no time counties will be able to pioneer successful ventures spawning a new industrial ecosystem that supports the Bottom-Up-Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA),” the Ministry said.