Inside Kenya's Bold Plan to Boost Leather Exports 12-Fold

Kenya's leather industry is poised for a major transformation with the development of the Kenya Leather Industrial Park in Kinanie, Machakos County. The ambitious project aims to boost the country's annual revenue from the leather sector from the current Sh14 billion to an impressive Sh175 billion.

During a recent inspection visit, Deputy President Kindiki expressed satisfaction with the ongoing construction work at the facility. The industrial park represents a significant step in the government's industrialization agenda, focusing on value addition in the leather sector.

Kenya currently produces 2.5 million hides and 6 million skins annually, but 90% of these are exported as raw materials. The new industrial park aims to change this by promoting local processing and manufacturing of leather products, creating substantial employment opportunities for the youth in the process.

The development of this facility is part of a broader county development strategy that includes the establishment of various industrial parks across the country. These initiatives are designed to boost local manufacturing capacity and enhance Kenya's position in the global leather market.

With construction progressing as planned, the Kenya Leather Industrial Park is expected to play a crucial role in revolutionizing the country's leather industry, fostering economic growth, and creating sustainable employment opportunities in the manufacturing sector.