Trade, Industrialization, Tourism & SME Development
Introduction
The aspirations of the County Government of Machakos under Departments of Trade, Industry, SMEs and Innovation is to create shared growth, decent jobs and economic opportunities for all.
Through the departments, H.E, Governor Wavinya has introduced friendly policies to attract investors in Machakos, who have in turn helped in driving the industrialisation agenda and job creation.
The department continues to engage investors through Investor round table forums and Industry Liaison program to enhance stakeholders’ participation and understand investors operating environment, challenges faced and provide solutions to facilitate growth and development.
The department is stewarded by the County Executive Committee Member and respective Chief Officers who work in collaboration with all stakeholders involved in Value Chain and Industrial sectors.
Currently, the department is supporting market aggregation strategies for buyers and sellers, a game changer in bringing backward and forward linkages in the whole sector. Build and Buy in Kenya strategy mantra is expected to promote local production and consumption and is key to stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities and open the County to huge industry opportunities. Machakos county is also enhancing export promotion through partnering with Export Processing Zones (EPZA) and Konza Technopolis in order to unlock new economic opportunities and attract sustainable investment in the County.
Traders from various sectors of the economy have been facilitated in the past to attend Entrepreneurship and Innovation Trade Fairs in Bujumbura, Burundi and Juba, South Sudan where they secured Markets for their products and established strategic contacts for regional trade.
In addition, the County Government of Machakos supported over 80 SMEs to participate at Local Trades Fairs. This was in Partnership with TJ events, a forum that gave exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their products and create network for better trade and opportunity.
To transform the County to a Market and Innovation Hub, the department is planning on establishing modalities of promoting local innovation through County Innovation Week summit. This is a dynamic platform that will form a platform to network with industry leaders, innovators and policy makers.
The County Government will continue to play an important role in facilitating the success of County Aggregation and Industrial parks (CAIP) programmes which are critical in agro processing value chain and in reducing postharvest losses. This programme is critical as it will improve income, create jobs and support growth of the SMEs sector.
To transform the county to a market hub in the Eastern Region, the Department of Trade, Industry and Innovation is working through SEKEB membership to ensure there is common market for locally produced products, standardised tariffs and policies, across the region and an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
H.E the Governor is also keen in supporting business growth culture through distribution of 2000 branded outdoor parasols to support business and 1500 motorcycle parasol across the county. In addition, over 1000 juakali traders in Machakos, Yatta, and Kangundo sub counties have benefitted from empowerment tools and equipment.
The County Government of Machakos has also equipped traders through training workshops to sharpen their entrepreneur skills. Regularization of market days has been done and more Market and cold room facilities have been constructed in collaboration with GAIN to curb farm produce losses. Further, various markets have been lit, making it convenient for traders to work longer hours. The Boda Boda sector has also been boosted with 43 new shades and rehabilitation of 40 new others. Decent bus stops have also been erected in major highways to provide shelter to commuters.
Livestock markets in Wamunyu have been constructed where farmers can trade in enclosed spaces. Other open air markets in Lita, Athi River and Makadara are similarly under construction where traders will transact their business in decent spaces.
Machakos County is strategically located for investment and is enhanced by the increasing support infrastructure projects, especially the Standard Gauge Railway, the new Nairobi Expressway and the availability of industrial warehousing and business parks. The pro-investment climate enhanced in the county across different industrial sub sectors will continue to entrench Machakos as the preferred investment and industrial hub in the country and the region.
Sections
Trade and External Relations
Tourism and Culture
Small and Medium Enterprise Development
Digital Economy
Industry and Innovation
Trade and External Relations
ROLES AND FUNCTIONS
- Facilitation of business and trade through developing and enforcing favorable policies and infrastructure development
- Entrepreneurship support and development through capacity development and promotion of SME sector
- Marketing and developing market linkages for products and produce of Machakos County
- Enhancement and promotion of cottage industries and the informal sector
Investment facilitation and promotion - Promotion of fair trading practices, standards and trade ethics
- Initiation and support of international and regional trade and investment integration and collaborations.
- Management of innovation and innovation initiatives
- Packaging, processing and dissemination of economic development information to development agents with interest in Machakos County
Tourism and Culture
ROLES AND FUNCTIONS
- Promotion and marketing of tourism activities across the county and beyond.
- Provision of technical advisory on matters regarding the tourism and hospitality sector
within the county. - Conducting research and development on tourism and hospitality.
- Formulation and implementation of multilateral tourism programs
- Promotion of Machakos County as a preferred tourist destination.
- Identification and documentation of existing and potential tourism attractions/products.
- Publication of newsletters, reports and briefs on tourism and hospitality matters for
promotion purposes. - Linkage of local, National and International bodies on tourism and hospitality matters.
- Conservation of Kamba culture, history and heritage.
- Promotion of Kamba cultural programs.
- Management of cultural integration programs between Machakos County and other
stakeholders. - Exhibition of Kamba cultural products locally and beyond.
- Promotion of Kamba Cultural products produced in Machakos County.
- Development and management of Kamba Cultural Centers.
- Creation and management of cultural performance groups in Machakos County.
Small and Medium Enterprise Development
ROLES AND FUNCTIONS
- Policy Development:
- Developing and implementing policies related to MSMEs in the county.
- SME’s Promotion
- Creation and promotion of market linkages for SMEs, both domestic and international through organized workshops, trade shows and exhibitions
- Micro Enterprise Support Program
- Establishment of SMEs and business incubation centers to support innovation and growth
- Providing training and support to enhance the capacity of MSMEs, including access to modern management practices and technology.
- Enterprise Development
- Promote enterprise development by strengthening entrepreneurial skills through capacity building that foster adoption of new entrepreneurial ideas and innovative ideas
- MSME funding
- Facilitation of access to short, medium and long term financing for SMEs through Bona fide financial institutions
- MSME Infrastructural Support Program
- Promoting the establishment of infrastructural facilities to support MSMEs.
- Enterprise Mentorship Program
- Mentor young entrepreneurs through establishment of business incubation centers to support innovation and growth
- Strategic Partnership Development
- Seeking collaboration with private institutions, NGOs and governmental agencies on SMEs development and capacity building
- Verified SME database
- To develop data base through mapping of existing MSMSs within Machakos County
PROGRAMS
- INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT.
a) Modern bus stops.
The department has constructed eight (8) bus stops along Machakos – Makutano (Kyumbi) road and Makadara on designated pick and drop points. This has enabled Machakos county residents to have resting places with shades as they board and alight vehicles.
b) Boda-boda sheds.
To support MSMEs involved in boda-boda sector, the department has constructed well over eighty (80) new sheds and renovated forty (40) existing sheds across the county. This move has not only improved aesthetic value of markets and stages but also created an enabling environment for boda-boda business in the county. It has also resulted to a sense of unity of purpose leading to formation of functional boda-boda Association SACCOs.
2. DEVELOPMENT
To aid in marketing, networking and market linkages both locally and region wise, the department has facilitated over 200 selected SMEs to Bujumbura in Burundi, Juba in Southern Sudan Regional trade fair and organised Machakos 2025 trade expo, as well as facilitating them to participate in Machakos ASK show.
Special attention is usually given to special interest groups, i.e. people living with disabilities, youth and women. This move has enabled MSMEs find markets both domestically and abroad, get exposure on market standards in relation to different cultures and religions.
Digital Economy
ROLES AND FUNCTIONS
Industry and Innovation
ROLES AND FUNCTIONS
- Initiating program interventions on industrial development to enhance wealth and employment creation in the County
- Initiating and implementing policies on industrial development.
- Engaging in liaison functions to respond to the emerging needs of the industry players.
- Engaging in key sector engagements on different thematic areas.
- Establishing technical linkages with National Government state agencies.
- Establishing linkages with Business Membership Organizations like Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, etc.
- Technical capacity development on matters relating to industry.
- Research and development on issues relating to industrial development
- Ensuring compliance with industry requirements
- Supporting interventions on climate change action and mitigation
- Developing policies on streamlining the innovation ecosystem in the county.
- Developing intervention programs on innovation development in the county, e.g. County Innovation Hub.
- Technical capacity development on innovation development.
- Collaborating with national innovation agencies including the Kenya Innovation Agency, the Konza Technopolis Authority, etc. and academic institutions like universities, etc. This is with the view to attracting partnerships on innovation development.
- Sector-wide mapping of innovations across the county.
- Organizing innovation events, including Machakos Innovation Week and Conference. Incubating and providing mentorship, and scaling-up of innovative ideas.
Address
Department Headquarters
Mavoko Sub-County Headquaters, Athi-River
Address: P.O. BOX 1996-90100 Machakos, Kenya.
Call: 0800600016
Email: trade@machakos.go.ke
