President William Ruto has called on Kenyans to prioritise locally manufactured products, saying the move will strengthen businesses, create jobs, and accelerate the country’s industrialisation agenda.
Addressing delegates at the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Presidential Round Table, the President said manufacturing continues to be key to the government’s quest for inclusive economic transformation.
He pointed out that buying the products made within the country helps local firms, gives jobs to locals, increases the market for farmers, and keeps more money circulating in the economy.
“By processing more of what we produce and producing more of what we consume, we are creating greater economic opportunities locally. We are therefore, deliberately transforming Kenya from an exporter of raw materials into a producer of finished and value-added goods that can compete favourably in regional and global markets, ” he said
The government has a policy aiming at transitioning Kenya from an exporting country of raw materials into a manufacturing country of final products and value added products, which can compete effectively in regional and international markets.
“The reforms we have undertaken are already yielding positive results, with an increasing number of entrepreneurs and farmers embracing value addition, expanding their enterprises and earning more across diverse agricultural and industrial value chains, ” said the President.
Ruto stated this during the opening of the Industrialisation Summit, which was held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
Held concurrently with the Changamka Shopping Festival, the summit has gathered 400 manufacturers and innovators to present locally manufactured goods.
He also appealed to Kenyans to support the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya programme.
