Kirinyaga Governor, Anne Waiguru says deliberate policy shift toward inclusive and locally anchored development is driving the county into becoming a hub for rural enterprise and innovation.

While delivering the State-of-the-County Address (SOCA) at the Kirinyaga County Assembly on Tuesday, November 11, Waiguru said her administration has cultivated a fertile environment for investment, unlocking growth across diverse sectors.

She said strategic infrastructure upgrades, streamlined licensing procedures, and targeted support for small and medium enterprises have made the county a magnet for investors seeking stability, opportunity, and community impact.

“The rise of new rice mills, flour mills, fish hatcheries, eco-tourism lodges, and value-addition hubs reflects not just economic expansion but a deliberate policy shift toward inclusive, locally anchored development,” she said.

The Governor said over the last eight years, the Gross County Product has increased from Sh 114.9 billion in 2017 to Sh 190.79 billion in 2024, injecting significant liquidity into the local economy.

“Our economic growth rate now stands at 5.4%, surpassing the national average of 4.9%. Equally encouraging is the reduction in our poverty index, which has dropped from 23% to 21%, lifting approximately 52,000 households out of poverty. These gains of 33 affirm our commitment to inclusive development and a healthier, more prosperous Kirinyaga for all,” she added.

To support industrial investment in the county, Waiguru said her administration has successfully spearheaded the recovery of over 800 acres of public land that had been illegally taken.

“The bold exercise aims at returning the lands to rightful community use for schools, hospitals, housing projects, and agricultural development. It’s a move that directly touches the lives of ordinary citizens, reaffirming that the county’s progress must serve the people, not private interests,” she affirmed.

She said the recovery of land was not just an administrative milestone but a turning point for Kirinyaga’s development as the lands now stand ready to serve future generations.

“By acting decisively, my administration has restored public faith in government. This isn’t just about land; it’s about rebuilding trust and restoring dignity. It’s about showing that leadership means protecting what belongs to the people and standing firm in the face of impunity,” Waiguru added.

Waiguru to attract investors, her administration has invested deliberately in building and maintaining an extensive network of roads, bridges, and urban infrastructure to open up our county for trade, agriculture, and investment.

Cumulatively, she said the county has graded 7151.5 kilometres and graveled 2,265.5 kilometres across all sub-counties, ensuring year-round connectivity for farmers, traders, and schoolchildren.

“You can bear me witness, our towns were once muddy, dusty, and poorly drained. But today, Kirinyaga is rewriting that story. Through strategic investment in urban infrastructure, we have laid 118,550 square meters of cabro and upgraded drainage systems across seven major towns: Kagio, Sagana, Kagumo, Kerugoya, Kianyaga, Kutus, and Wang’uru.

She said the transformation has decongested the urban centres, boosted business operations, and elevated the day-to-day experience for traders, commuters, and residents.

To catalyse industrial growth and expand market access, Waiguru explained that the county has prioritised the development of the upcoming Sagana Industrial City (SAIC), a transformative complex comprising an Export Processing Zone (EPZ), Special Economic Zone (SEZ), and the Affordable Housing component and a sports complex.

This integrated development is underpinned by modern infrastructure, including reliable power, water supply, sewerage, and waste management systems.

Together, Waiguru said the two components position the Sagana Industrial City as a flagship driver of industrialisation, job creation, and inclusive economic transformation in the region.

“Once fully operational, the industrial city is projected to create over 10,000 direct and 170,000 indirect jobs, significantly boosting household incomes and reducing unemployment in the county,” he noted.

Kirinyaga investors

She disclosed that 63 potential investors have so far expressed interest to put up factories at the industrial park with tomato and avocado processing having already secured committed investors.

To enhance disaster response systems, the county government is in the process of acquiring two new firefighting trucks that will be stationed at the newly constructed modern Fire Station at Kutus.

The County has also acquired and deployed 75 waste collection skips and 2 skip loaders to enhance waste collection and transportation.

“These efforts have yielded tangible results, including an 85% reduction in visible urban waste, cleaner towns, and growing community awareness on sustainable waste management,” the Governor noted.

She said through Wezesha Kirinyaga Program, more than 100,000 have directly benefitted from multiple agricultural value chains, including tomato, rice, dairy, poultry, coffee, avocado, apiculture, aquaculture, goat, and pig farming.

“We have supported 804 farmers’ groups with Sh. 253 million, and an additional 19 Farmers’ Producer Organisations, with Sh. 266 million to strengthen production and marketing. To enhance access to affordable credit and markets, the county established 20 multi–value chain SACCOs in every ward, and supported with Sh. 21 million for office setup, farmer mobilisation, and financial services,” she disclosed.

In healthcare, the Governor said her administration has invested in expanding access to basic primary health services by operationalising new health centres across the county thus reducing travel time and healthcare-related costs for thousands of Kirinyaga residents by up to 40%.

Apart from operationalizing the 341-bed Kerugoya County Referral Hospital the county has hired over 150 health workers to fill critical gaps created by facility upgrades and reinforced service delivery at the referral hospital and sub-county hospitals. The county is also upgrading Kianyaga, Kimbimbi and Sagana to lever four hospitals.

The County has also introduced new specialised services in its hospitals among them orthopaedic surgery, urology, oncology, neurology and epidemiology among others. Previously, residents had to travel outside the county to seek these services.

Waiguru disclosed that the county has fully digitised revenue collection through the Kiripay system. That has helped seal revenue leakages, and made it easier for citizens to pay for single business permits, licenses, and cess fees.  

As a result, she added, that the County has consistently ranked well among the top performers nationally in development budget absorption, as recognised by the Office of the Controller of Budget.

Kirinyaga has recorded a steady rise in Own Source Revenue from Sh. 344.4 million in 2017 up to Sh. 852.3 million in 2024.