The Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry has kicked off a comprehensive compliance audit of county-level industrial parks to ensure public resources are properly managed. The review will cover all 34 County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) currently under construction, focusing on governance, financial management, and procurement practices.
The audit, spearheaded by teams from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), aims to evaluate systems and procedures guiding the programme. Officials say the exercise is intended to spot weaknesses that could create financial or operational risks and to offer recommendations that strengthen oversight.
Principal Secretary for the State Department of Industry Juma Mukhwana said the audit will verify that county governments adhere to legal, financial, and governance requirements while implementing the parks.
"The initiative aims to strengthen transparency, accountability and proper utilisation of public resources committed to the programme, which is a key intervention in advancing Kenya's industrialisation agenda," the PS said in a statement on Thursday.
The 34 CAIPs are at different stages of development nationwide. The programme is designed to enhance agro-processing by facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, and value addition of agricultural produce at the county level. It forms part of Kenya’s Vision 2030 strategy and complements the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which targets agriculture and manufacturing as pillars of economic growth, job creation, and exports.
Each county receives Sh250 million from the national government, with matching funds provided locally. So far, the government has released Sh4.052 billion, with ten counties having received their full allocation. For the 2025/2026 fiscal year, Sh4.448 billion has been earmarked, with Sh2.224 billion already disbursed to 24 counties.
Once complete, the parks are expected to reduce post-harvest losses, boost investment in agro-processing, and expand employment opportunities. The Ministry stressed that the compliance review will help ensure adherence to governance and financial rules and strengthen internal systems before operations begin.
The monitoring teams will review procedures and practices to confirm proper resource management and adherence to procurement standards. They will also advise county administrations on ways to improve project implementation and protect public funds.
"The exercise seeks to identify potential gaps and vulnerabilities and recommend corrective measures to strengthen accountability and safeguard public investments," the PS added.
