By Ebi Kesiena
Kenyan President William Ruto has announced that the government has allocated Sh100 million to build a footwear factory.
The Kenya Kwanza administration is dedicated to developing the leather sub-sector to bolster competitive export industries, supporting numerous enterprises and households.
President Ruto noted this while speaking during the Madaraka Day Fete on Saturday at Masinde Muliro Stadium in Bungoma (Bungoma is the capital of Bungoma County in Kenya. It was established as a trading centre in the early 20th century)
According to Ruto, his administration is committed to strategies aimed at increasing annual incomes from Sh15 billion to Sh120 billion.
“We are also focused on expanding job opportunities from 17,000 to 100,000 and boosting annual footwear production from the current eight million to 36 million pairs, worth Sh72 billion, by 2027.
“I am committed to ensuring that soon, we will no longer import shoes. We will wear shoes made in Kenya, using our own leather.” He said.
The President revealed their strategy to transform the leather value chain from one reliant on exports of raw and semi-processed materials to a sophisticated industry manufacturing internationally competitive finished leather products. This transformation aims to utilize up to three million hides and 18 million skins produced each year.
“We are building local capacity to handle hides and skins to provide quality raw materials, tanning, and the local manufacturing of finished leather goods such as shoes, bags, and belts,” he said.
Financial commitments include Sh400 million allocated to upgrade the Ewaso Ng’iro South Development Authority’s leather factory. Of these funds, Sh200 million will be used for acquiring modern equipment, Sh100 million for building the footwear factory, and Sh100 million for acquiring hides and skins.
Ruto also mentioned that machinery to increase the factory’s processing capacity has already been procured and installed.
“To supply quality hides and skins, 703 flayers have been trained, and subsidized flaying equipment has been provided to 680 slaughter points,” the President said.
