Ease of doing business attracting more investors, job opportunities CEO says

Muoki Charles-KNA

The ease of doing business in the country continues to attract more investors, thereby creating several economic opportunities for the citizens, Kenya Investments Authority CEO John Mwendwa has said.

Mwendwa said several investors have pitched tents in the country, setting up multi-billion worth of investments in the Special Economic Zones and Export Processing Zones, thus creating jobs.

Speaking during the launch of the Link Warehousing and Logistics Park within Tatu City in Ruiru, Kiambu County, Mwendwa said while some companies were feeling the heat of competition and relocating to other areas, many others were setting up investments in the country.

“The notion that some companies are relocating due to a difficult business environment has not had a serious impact on business as many more others are setting up multi-billion investments in the country. The government is committed to providing a conducive business environment as well as reducing the cost of doing business in the country to attract more investors,” Mwendwa said.

This view was echoed by the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) Chief Executive Dr Kenneth Chelule who said that there was huge potential to be exploited particularly in medium and small enterprises.

Chelule said in the last three years, over 40 special economic zones have been established in the country creating room for more than 90 business enterprises that were now fully licensed and operating in those zones.

He cited the new Logistic Park in Tatu where over 10 companies are set to be established bringing the total number of investments in the zone to over 100.

“This investment in Tatu comes at the back of Dongu Kondu in Mombasa and in Naivasha zones where the signing of lease deals worth billions of dollars is expected to be rolled out in the next 60 days. This shows there is room for local businesses to invest in SEZ,” Chelule said.

According to Preston Mendenhall, the Chief Operating Officer at Rendezvous which runs Tatu City, companies that have set base at the industrial park have now hit the 100 mark and the number is still growing.

He said in the last five years, they have created over 25, 000 jobs ranging from highly skilled to manufacturing and warehousing and distribution of 1,000 jobs with a wide range of industries ranging from assembly to electronics to beverage and baked goods.