President Uhuru Kenyatta (top R) and Diageo Global CEO Ivan Menezes, oversees signing of an agreement to establish a Sh15 billion modern state-of- the art brewery by the East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL) in Kisumu, June 29, 2017. [Photo: PSCU]
President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced a new investment of Sh15 billion in Kisumu.
The investment, a modern state-of- the art brewery by the East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL) to be set up on a 50 acre piece of land will create 110,000 jobs.
Kenyatta made the announcement at State House, Nairobi, after holding talks with Ivan Menezes, Diageo Global CEO, who led the EABL team.
He said the investment is in keeping with Jubilee administration's agenda of creating wealth for all Kenyans by ensuring shared prosperity amongst the citizens, and to empower the private sector.
“If our private sector do well, that development means that our businesses can invest in new parts of the country, and that they can bring jobs, well-paid jobs at that – for our young people, right across Kenya,” he said.
Uhuru pointed out that in the Jubilee manifesto launched Monday evening, the government considered the progress made in laying a strong foundation and looks ahead to the next phase of its delivery agenda which depends on industrialisation.
“We know we cannot have inclusive prosperity unless our sons and daughters across the country have good jobs."
He said substantial progress had been made adding that since 2013, the country had created an average of 800,000 jobs.
He said in just four years, over 1500 companies had invested in the country, more than twenty of them choosing Kenya as their Africa headquarters.
Uhuru cited Twyford- the first ceramic manufacturing company in Kenya - situated in Kajiado, Wrigley’s Sh6 billion in Machakos that is near completion and the Sh1.5 billion Bidco factory being setup in Thika.
Other recent investments made in the country include Sh5 billion Keroche Breweries Plant in Naivasha, Kenya’s first ever private Special Economic Zone in Eldoret with over Sh200 billion in foreign direct investment which will see creation of over 100,000 jobs, the Sh12 billion GZI Can manufacturer in Africa at Sultan Hamud and the Leather City under construction in Machakos which will employ 50,000 Kenyans once complete.