Kilifi, Kenya – President William Ruto has assured global and local investors that Kenya offers a predictable and secure investment climate in its Special Economic Zones (SEZs), backed by clear policies and stable laws.
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Speaking on Tuesday during a panel discussion after presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony of the 2,000-acre Vipingo Special Economic Zone in Kilifi County, President Ruto emphasized that Kenya’s SEZ framework is firmly anchored in law.
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He cited the Special Economic Zones Act (2015), the Finance Act (2023) and the Business Laws Amendment (2024) as robust safeguards that protect investors operating within these industrial hubs.
“The law on tax incentives is guaranteed for 10 years. Kenya ensures a stable, investor-friendly SEZ regime, and any future changes will only serve to benefit investors,” said Ruto.
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The President highlighted that the Vipingo SEZ is expected to attract $3 billion (KSh390 billion) in investments, creating 35,000 direct jobs and thousands of indirect opportunities across industries.
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The project, he said, will be a transformative industrial hub, unlocking value chains in agro-processing, textiles and apparel, pharmaceuticals, and other key sectors while boosting Kenya’s export competitiveness.
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“Special economic zones are engines of growth to fast-track industrialisation, attract global investors, and create wealth for our people,” he noted.
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Kenya currently hosts 38 Special Economic Zones and 111 Export Processing Zones, powered by abundant green energy, a skilled youthful workforce, and vast natural resources for value addition. President Ruto positioned the country as the gateway to Africa’s 1.4 billion-strong AfCFTA market, saying SEZs are central to delivering the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
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“They provide critical infrastructure – roads, power, water, and ICT – enabling industries to thrive while creating and retaining jobs locally,” he added.
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Ruto further revealed that Kenya has completed packaging three new investment areas: textiles and apparel, e-mobility, and Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs). He said details will be released to investors next week.
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Afrexim Bank President and Chairman Benedict Oramah commended Kenya’s commitment, saying SEZs will play a pivotal role in accelerating the country’s industrialisation agenda.
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Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui and Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro also addressed the forum, reaffirming their support for creating investor-friendly ecosystems in the coastal region.
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The event brought together policymakers, financiers, investors, and industry leaders, all agreeing that SEZs remain central to Africa’s manufacturing and industrial future.
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“With the right infrastructure, incentives, and partnerships, Kenya is positioning itself as Africa’s industrial powerhouse,” President Ruto concluded.
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