Failure to provide land locks 22 constituencies out of tech centres

Industrialisation PS Wilson Songa. Twenty two constituencies that failed to provide land for construction of constituency industrial development centres have missed out on the economic stimulus initiative meant to promote entrepreneurship. FILE PHOTO | 

In Summary

• He said the centres will enhance technology transfer and urged every county to identify their areas of excellence where they have a competitive edge.
• He said the country faces serious competition in furniture and wood work production form other East African nations.

By MWANIKI WAHOME
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Twenty two constituencies that failed to provide land for construction of constituency industrial development centres have missed out on the economic stimulus initiative meant to..............................
promote entrepreneurship.

Industrialisation Principal Secretary, Mr Wilson Songa, said the regions will now deal with county governments if they want to set up such centres.

“We expect the counties to take up the responsibility (of establishing the centres). Since the facilities have to go into such centres, these constituencies can not benefit without them,” he said.

The industrial centres were part of the economic stimulus programme initiated in 2009/2010 meant the boost growth following post-election violence and spill over effects of the financial crisis in Europe.

Mr Songa spoke when he handed over constituency industrial development centres to the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority.

The authority took over 159 facilities and 60 different categories of machines, equipment and tools. They include 166 lathe machines, 1,000 welding machines, 126 air compressors and 26 concrete mixers. The equipment is worth Sh340 million.

FINANCIALLY VIABLE

“We wanted to hand over the centres to the counties but because of the training required, MSEA will work in collaboration with these devolved units to ensure they are well handled. We want to send a strong message to financial institutions that are averse to lending to such enterprises that they are viable,” Mr Songa said.

He said the centres will enhance technology transfer and urged every county to identify their areas of excellence where they have a competitive edge.

Mr Songa said the ministry bought equipment guided by requests made by stakeholders in each constituency that fall into four categories of metal, automobile, carpentry and construction.

He said the country faces serious competition in furniture and wood work production form other East African nations.

MSEA acting chief executive officer, Mr Patrick Mwangi, said work site regulations will soon be released to make it much easier for youth enrol in the programme.

“The sheds there have been occupied by a certain generation and it is time to ease the entry of the youth into the manufacturing sector. We shall have work site regulations that are anchored on Micro and Small Enterprise Act. This will enable the youth to enter manufacturing sector much faster,” he said.