Kenya is accelerating its industrialization strategy. The government plans to establish a new Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mombasa, a project valued at 12 billion Kenyan shillings, or approximately $92.7 million. The first phase is expected to create nearly 10,000 jobs.
Located on a 217-hectare site, the future zone will benefit from direct access to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) as well as the Northern Corridor, two major routes for transporting goods across Kenya and the wider region.
The site will host activities including manufacturing, processing, assembly and brand development. Through this infrastructure, Nairobi aims to strengthen local production capacity and boost exports to markets within the East African Community (EAC), COMESA, and, more broadly, across the African continent.
“This project will help transform Kenya from an agriculture-based economy into one driven by production and exports,” President William Ruto said during the signing ceremony for the agreement establishing the new zone.
The project is part of the Fourth Medium-Term Plan (MTP IV), covering the 2023–2027 period, which is one of the main instruments for implementing the Kenyan government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Through this strategy, the authorities are seeking, in particular, to accelerate job creation, reduce the cost of living, support businesses and promote more inclusive growth.
For Nairobi, special economic zones are therefore a key driver of economic transformation. They are intended to connect farmers, SMEs and manufacturers more closely with regional and international markets, while strengthening the country’s ability to produce locally and increase exports.
With this project in Mombasa, Kenya aims to transform its main port into a major industrial and logistics hub, capable of supporting the country’s industrial development and strengthening its position at the heart of African trade.
