The government is set to construct a multimillion shilling state of the art leather City at Kanaani location in Mavoko Sub County.
Environmental and Watershed Management Specialist, Michael Wairagu, said the proposed leather industrial park will be established on a 500 acre piece of land already secured by the government within the location.
"There is apparently no industry in Kanaani location. The government wants the area to be known for producing skin so that all skins from across the country including Nairobi are brought to the industrial park for processing," said Wairagu.
Wairagu said the state had engaged the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) as the implementing agency to execute the five year project that was scheduled for implementation between 2013 - 2018.
He said it is a vision 2030 flagship project aimed at attracting investment in the leather sector to manufacture for export and in the process create jobs to the locals.
Wairagu said the city will comprise 36 tanneries, 18 value addition parks, trade centre, research and development centre, housing estate of 1,200 units and a common effluent treatment plant.
He said both designing of the city and strategic environmental impact assessment were on by different relevant institutions on behalf of the state and EPZA.
Wairagu, who addressed the residents at a public sensitisation meeting on the project at Kanaani Shopping Centre on Tuesday, assured the residents that the industrial park expected to host 54 companies on average will create a minimum of 5,400 direct jobs to the locals.
"There are only 13 tanneries in the entire country. Thrice that number will be established in the proposed park," said Wairagu.
Wairagu urged the residents to conduct a meeting with their local leadership and write a memorandum to the government on the community's interests and the kind of corporate social responsibility projects that can be executed by the project implementer for the benefit of the entire community.