Kilifi County has taken a major step towards agricultural industrialisation following the commissioning of the Milly Fruit Processing Plant in Sabaki, Magarini, a project expected to create more than 4,000 jobs and provide a ready market for over 3,000 farmers.
The facility was officially commissioned by Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro, alongside British Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director Diana Dalton and Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion Abubakar Hassan Abubakar.
The processing plant is expected to strengthen the county’s agricultural value chain by enabling farmers to sell their produce locally for value addition while increasing household incomes and reducing post-harvest losses.
Governor Mung’aro described the investment as a significant milestone in Kilifi’s economic transformation, saying it reflects the county government’s commitment to creating jobs through industrialisation and strategic partnerships.
The project was developed through a partnership between the Kilifi County Government and the United Kingdom Government under the Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) Programme, implemented by Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Kenya.
According to the governor, the partnership demonstrates how collaboration between development partners and county governments can unlock investment opportunities, promote local manufacturing and stimulate inclusive economic growth.
Mung’aro said his administration has prioritised creating an investor-friendly environment over the past three and a half years, helping attract new industries and expand employment opportunities for residents.
He noted that the county has facilitated the establishment of 14 Export Processing Zones (EPZs) during the period, four more than were established over the previous decade, creating more than 14,000 jobs.
The governor said Kilifi has now emerged as the leading investment destination in Kenya’s Coast region and pledged to continue attracting investors to expand local industries, create sustainable employment and accelerate economic growth.
The Milly Fruit Processing Plant is expected to play a key role in supporting fruit farmers in Kilifi and neighbouring counties by providing a reliable market while promoting value addition in Kenya’s agricultural sector.
