Moses Kuria's Project Hits First Hurdle Week After Gazettement

Days after Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria set aside Nasewa land in Busia County for the development of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), residents on Tuesday, April 25, rejected his plan to use the entire 843 acres project. 

 

The residents staged a protest claiming that the land was set aside without proper public participation.

 

"Why would they use 843 acres of land for construction of EPZ. They should have diversified this land so that EPZ is given some 341 acres like what they did in Uasin Gishu County," Busia resident James Obakha lamented.

 

While they welcomed the idea of the construction of a centralised processing zone, the villagers noted that the concerns, including an intrinsic understanding of the project, must be addressed before any work is undertaken on the plot. 

The villagers, who are mostly farmers, also appealed to President William Ruto's government to share with them a detailed cost-benefit analysis of the project's rollout that would inspire confidence in them. 

 

"We do not know what EPZ is! Is it a camel or a lion? Why can't the government come and explain to us what it means?" Another resident, Simon Ochieng, questioned. 

 

During the peaceful protest, Nasewa villagers also demanded compensation and job opportunities for the local community before the project was greenlighted.

 

"Let it not be that the government will bring some rich people to come and take all our jobs and money in the name of Export Processing Zone," another resident lamented

 

The farm on which the processing zone will be established was mostly utilised by small-scale farmers from the village who expressed fears that the government could soon step in and take the land without meeting their demands.

 

Kuria already gazetted Nasewa EPZ which is set to be constructed in Matayos Constituency and become Busia's first industrial park.

 

While praising the project, Busia Governor Paul Otuoma noted that the EPZ plant would propel the region's economic growth and development.

 

Governor Otuoma also stated that Nasewa EPZ will be constructed in three phases, a move that will provide employment opportunities for the locals.

 

"The establishment of the Industrial Park at the Nasewa Nucleus Estate is in light of the Kenyan Government’s manufacturing and food security agenda," Governor Otuma stated.