By Jackson Okoth

The Government plans to spend Sh132 billion to promote industrial development which includes setting up special economic zones, a free trade area in Mombasa and an industrial park in each of the 47 county governments.

According to the Medium Term Expenditure Framework covering the periods 2014/15 – 2016/17, this amount will be scaled up to Sh154.5 billion in 2014/15 and Sh172.7 billion in 2016/17 financial year.

Exports from Economic Processing Zones (EPZ) stand at Sh41.41 billion while direct local employment in the EPZ stands at 32,516 people.

In the next financial year, 2014/15, there is a plan to do feasibility studies and planning of three special economic zones in Mombasa, Lamu and Kisumu.

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This work plan also includes land transfer and resettlement costs as well as development of infrastructure in the three special economic zones. There is also a plan to acquire land for setting up the Mombasa free trade zone. Development of infrastructure will also be done in 5 pilot counties and infrastructure in 10 counties.