Kitui County, the Untapped Investment Hub

Following months of high level research, the County Government of Kitui has mapped out six economic and investment zones in the county based on the economic potential and resource endowment of each. These zones will make it easier for investors to locate regions with the opportunities they desire.

These six economic and investment zones are as follows;

1. The Mui Basin Zone

This region transverses Mwingi Central and Kitui East sub-counties and has large deposits of coal. The area also boasts of clay deposits which can be used in ceramics, pottery and brick making. The exploitation of these resources will lead to an increase in housing and real estate demand.

2. Mwingi Town and Environs Zone

Located along the Nairobi-Garissa Highway, the region is ideal for financial services such banks and it also has a huge potential for agriculture through irrigation farming.

3. Kitui County Headquarters and environs Zone

Investors can target game lodges, restaurants and hotels to serve a growing tourism sector. There is also a high potential for exporting tourism products from the heritage handmade traditional Akamba wood carvings for international markets. The area is rich in a wide variety of fruits like mangoes, paw paws, tomatoes, water melons, avocadoes and castor fruits thus fruit and juice processing and packaging industries can thrive here.

4. Kanyangi-Kanyonyo-Kwa Vonza zone

This zone hosts the Kanyonyoo Wildlife Sanctuary at Thaatha section thus investor opportunities include hotels, restaurant and sports tourism. The area is also rich in sand ballast and investors eyeing real estate sector can take advantage of the cheap construction material costs. Commercial ranching and breeding of animals for meat products and by products including leather tanneries can be set up here targeting export markets.

5. Mutomo-Ikutha-Kanziko Zone

This region is a mining belt for those targeting investments in limestone, iron ore and precious stones. Its unique position as a Gateway to the Tsavo National Park and South Kitui Game Reserve presents abundant opportunities ranging eco-tourism, hotel and conference facilities, filming destination and sports tourism including motor racing.

6. Kyuso-Muumoni-Tsekuru Zone

This is another natural tourism destination and home of Mwingi North Game Reserve, Kora National Park and the culturally valued Gai/Muruu Rock. And like most parts of the County it is ideal for ranching and is equally rich in limestone and iron ore deposits. But the real advantage for investors is the connection to the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor, the existence of Fibre Optic cable to provide fast internet connectivity and good road infrastructure that connects the six economic and investment zones.

“To create this enabling environment and realize the potential of the county, all departments of my government have been formulating investor-friendly policies and regulations on trade, land, agriculture, water and minerals investment development “, said H.E. Dr Julius Malombe, the Governor Kitui county during the just concluded Kitui County Investors Conference held in Ithookwe, Kitui. ”My government has deliberately invested about KShs. 1.323 billion to construct new roads and rehabilitate dilapidated ones up to about 1,400 km in the last two years. This effort has resulted in the connectivity of the six special economic and investment zones, increased accessibility to shopping and market centres, schools and health facilities, shortened time spent on travel and reduced vehicle operation costs”, he added.

All these initiatives undertaken by the County Government  and many more in other social and economic sectors such as education, health, cooperatives, tourism and finance, are geared towards providing a conducive business environment to investors. These efforts will ultimately create vibrant rural and urban economies and hence economically and socially transform the standards of living and the livelihoods of our people.