The Government is advancing the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by taking industrialisation beyond major urban centres and into rural counties, creating new opportunities for investment, employment and enterprise. The strategy seeks to ensure that economic transformation reaches communities across the country while unlocking the productive potential of regions that have traditionally had limited access to industrial infrastructure.
In Busia County, the Nasewa Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is emerging as an important component of this rural industrialisation drive. The facility is designed to establish an industrial hub capable of attracting manufacturing, processing and value-addition enterprises. Its development is expected to strengthen Busia’s position as an investment destination while creating a platform for businesses to establish operations closer to sources of labour and raw materials.
The Nasewa EPZ’s infrastructure is central to its investment potential. The facility comprises four warehouses, an administrative block, a secure perimeter and a reliable water supply system. These facilities provide essential infrastructure that can reduce the initial costs and logistical challenges faced by companies seeking to establish or expand manufacturing and processing operations.
By providing ready industrial infrastructure, the project can attract both local and external investors looking for suitable locations to manufacture, process and add value to products. This could encourage businesses to move beyond the production and sale of raw materials and instead undertake more activities locally, helping communities capture a greater share of the economic value generated within the region.
The employment impact could also be significant. Completion and operationalisation of the EPZ is expected to generate direct jobs within manufacturing, processing, administration, logistics and other industrial activities. At the same time, indirect employment opportunities are likely to emerge for artisans, traders, transport operators, suppliers, food vendors, maintenance providers and other small businesses serving workers and companies operating within the industrial hub.
For local entrepreneurs, the Nasewa EPZ could therefore become more than an industrial facility. Increased economic activity will create new markets for goods and services while expanding opportunities for small enterprises to participate in supply chains. Local producers and service providers could benefit from demand generated by factories, warehouses, employees and businesses connected to the EPZ.
The project’s implementation in coordination with the State Department for Interior and National Administration also highlights the importance of security and community engagement in sustaining investment. Inter-agency cooperation can help create a secure operating environment, strengthen engagement with surrounding communities and ensure that development is aligned with local interests. A stable environment will be essential for attracting and retaining investors over the long term.
Ultimately, the Nasewa EPZ represents the broader BETA ambition of spreading economic opportunities across Kenya rather than concentrating industrial development in major cities. By bringing manufacturing, value addition, jobs and enterprise opportunities closer to rural communities, the project can contribute to inclusive economic growth in Busia County. Its successful operationalisation could provide a model for how industrial infrastructure can transform local economies and make rural Kenya an increasingly attractive destination for investment.
