Kenya to build arid areas into export processing zones

Kenya is accelerating development plans to end the marginalisation of its arid and semi arid regions mainly in the northern part of the country that have high poverty levels because of lack of infrastructure to facilitate growth of enterprises.

The Ministry of State for Development of Northern Kenya announced its intentions on Tuesday in Nairobi to set up export processing zones in at least three counties in the region, in addition to helping the respective counties develop business models to earn more revenue. In various announcements carried in the national press on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Northern Kenya Lawrence Lenayapa said the government is seeking consultants to help meet the objectives of making the region economically viable.