TRADE: EMBU COUNTY CAIP VISIT

A visit to the ongoing construction project of the Embu County Aggregation and Industrial Park (ECAIP) 

MACHANG'A AREA, MBEERE SOUTH SUBCOUNTY 

The ECAIP Inspection Team|PHOTO: Jeremiah Mutuanga 

A multi-agency team of officers from the State Department for Trade, Kenya National Multi Commodities Exchange Limited  (KOMEX), Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) Council, Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC), Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) and the Council of Governors (CoG) having kicked off the assessment and market planning exercise of the ongoing construction works of the CAIPs project, have paid a visit to Embu County.

The team at site

The team was hosted by the CEC for Trade, Investment & Industry Francis Ndwiga, his counterpart for Finance, Prof. Joe Kamaria, Chief Officer for Investments and Embu CAIP Project Manager, Mukami Muriithi, as well as Chief Officers for Trade and Public Works among other County Officials.

The team has also undertaken field assessment visits in Migori, Homabay, Kisii, Busia, Bungoma, and Uasin Gishu. Next stop will include Kirinyaga, Machakos, Kwale, Garrissa, Wajir, and Meru. The team is assessing 13 CAIPs nationally.

Exterior view of Embu CAIP

Besides establishing the progress of the CAIPs, the multi-agency team is keen on identifying priority value chains in the respective counties with a view of devising aggregation and market linkage iniatives to revamp participation tradional markets, and unlock new local and international markets.

The visits also seek to lay out Aggregation Plans and Marketing Plans for the identified value chains and CAIPs implementation besides creating awareness among farmers, traders and county government officials on domestic and international market opportunities. 

The priority values chains for Embu County are Macadamia, Avocado, Coffee, Bananas, Mangoes, Honey, and Dairy. The County Government has ongoing backward linkage programs, including fertilizer distribution, farm input financing, and distribution of certified seeds and seedlings. They have also deployed at least 8 agripreneurs per ward to offer extension services to farmers.

Interior view of the structure(s)

The CAIPs are aimed at boosting production, agro-industrialisation, value addition and economic growth at the devolved units level, and their respective economic bloc. Embu County is among the 10 counties in the Central Region Economic Bloc (CEREB).

The CAIP will serve entrepreneurs, farmers, traders and manufacturers by providing facilities for storage, sorting, processing and distribution of commodities. SDT will offer policy-related support for the CAIPs, including value chain activation, unbundling market access opportunities for value chain actors, and fostering an enabling business environment. KNTC will bring its expertise in wholesale/retail trade locally, while KEPROBA will offer export trade facilitation services. Additionally, the CAIPs will be certified for aggregation, storage and collateralization using the Warehouse Receipt System, providing linkage to markets through KOMEX's Trading Technology System, while ensuring fair trade practices through Weights & Measures, KECOPAC, and KETRA. 

The meeting also resolved the need to develop a robust CAIP policy, unlock funding mechanisms to operationalize the CAIP, carry out targeted engagements with value chain actors and capacity build county government officials, farmers, manufacturers, traders and MSMEs. The CAIP aims to reduce post-harvest losses for farmers, provide equipment for value addition, and boost the county's economy.