10,000 acres in Kisumu set for Special Economic Zones to boost communities

ROBERT OJWANG’-KNA 

The Government will establish five Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across the country to create employment opportunities, empower the youth, and drive sustainable development.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi highlighted the initiative’s potential to provide a favorable environment for both local and international investments.

CS Mbadi announced that the government plans to prioritize Kisumu County for the program, revealing that 10,000 acres of land in the Kibos area, Miwani, have been earmarked for an SEZ.

“The Treasury will allocate substantial funding in the next budget to kickstart the development of industrial parks, free trade zones, and business service parks to benefit the local communities,” he said during a church service at the Othoo SDA Church in Nyando Sub County. 

The SEZ in Kisumu, the CS noted, aims to address barriers to business operations, including high energy costs, limited transport linkages, restricted market access, and bureaucratic inefficiencies.

Mbadi emphasized Kisumu’s strategic importance as a rapidly growing city with immense potential for local and foreign investment.

Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, speaking at the same event, praised the government’s commitment to the SEZ program, highlighting the county’s vast resources and strategic location.

“Kisumu is endowed with ample land, a skilled workforce, favorable climate, and access to the East African market via