ARISE IIP Unveils Industrial Parks Network to Power Kenya’s Economic Growth
From left, Aaron Nyagah, Finance Manager, George Olaka, CEO, Joseline Cheruiyot Legal Manager, and Victor Abayo, Investor Relations, all from Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (IIP) Kenya during a media breakfast familiarizing journalists with the company’s initiatives in Kenya.
Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) has officially set up operations in Kenya through a network of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and industrial parks in Kilifi, Mombasa, Naivasha, and Eldoret, a move expected to accelerate the country’s industrial transformation and economic diversification.
The investment, valued at over USD 3 billion is poised to position Kenya as a competitive hub for trade, production, and exports within regional blocs such as the East African Community (EAC), COMESA, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while leveraging preferential global market access through AGOA.
Speaking during a media breakfast in Nairobi, ARISE IIP Kenya Chief Executive Officer George Olaka said the company’s goal is to align with Kenya’s development agenda by attracting investors and strengthening the manufacturing ecosystem.
“Kenya is the gateway to East Africa and beyond, with a strong policy framework and a conducive environment for industrialization,” Mr. Olaka said. “Through our integrated industrial platforms, we aim to attract both local and foreign investment while providing manufacturers with the infrastructure and ecosystem they need to compete globally.”
ARISE IIP’s first Kenyan project, the 824-hectare Vipingo SEZ in Kilifi County, was launched in partnership with Centum Investment Company. The firm is also developing the Coast Integrated Industrial Park at Dongo Kundu in Mombasa and the Great Rift Industrial Park within the Naivasha SEZ, in collaboration with the Government of Kenya and Afreximbank.
In Eldoret, ARISE IIP recently secured a 21-year lease of Rivatex East Africa SEZ Limited, Kenya’s leading textile producer, to revitalize the cotton, textile, and apparel value chain.
“Developing our cotton and apparel value chain means creating jobs, stabilizing the country’s foreign exchange position, and expanding the tax base,” Mr. Olaka noted. “Through Rivatex, we are building a comprehensive textile hub — from cotton farmers to spinners, weavers, and garment makers.”
The four industrial platforms are projected to generate over 100,000 direct jobs and at least 500,000 indirect ones.
Financing for the projects is anchored on an $800 million joint facility by KCB Bank Kenya and Afreximbank, signaling investor confidence in ARISE IIP’s model of industrialization.
“Given the scale of our projects, collaboration between government, the private sector, and development finance institutions is essential,” Mr. Olaka said. “Together, we can accelerate the shared goal of building a globally competitive, industrialized Africa.”
ARISE IIP currently operates 20 industrial platforms across 14 African countries, focusing on transforming natural resources into finished goods for regional and international markets.
