In a major move to transform Bomet County from a primary producer into a localized agro-processing powerhouse, Governor Prof. Hillary Barchok today officially broke ground on the Bomet County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) in Sotik Town.
The multi-million shilling flagship project, co-funded and implemented jointly by the National Government and the Bomet County Government, aims to directly convert the region’s massive agricultural output into high-value industrial assets.
Speaking during the ceremony, which was attended by the State Department of Industrialization representative Mr. Kepha Nyaundi, Governor Barchok emphasized the strategic business shift the county is making.
”Through the Bomet County Aggregation and Industrial Park, we are leveraging our unique agricultural resources to drive localized value addition,” Governor Barchok said. “This project will turn Bomet’s agricultural strengths into direct industrial and commercial opportunities.”
Eliminating Supply Chain Inefficiencies
For decades, local farmers have faced thin profit margins due to a lack of local processing capacity and exploitation by middlemen. The CAIP is designed to systematically fix these market bottlenecks.
Situated strategically within Sotik Town, the park will serve as a centralized hub for aggregation and manufacturing. It will target the county’s major high-yield cash crops and food commodities, including:
- Beverages & Staples: Tea and maize.
- High-Value Horticulture: Avocados, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, and various horticultural crops.
To protect investor capital and optimize supply chains, the facility will feature modern industrial infrastructure, including large-scale warehouses, an administrative block, a central powerhouse, and dedicated water storage.
Crucially for the region’s avocado and potato value chains, the park will be equipped with modern storage and cold chain systems. By establishing a cold chain, the facility expects to dramatically reduce post-harvest losses—which typically claim up to 40% of fresh produce in East Africa—thereby smoothing out supply fluctuations and guaranteeing higher, more stable returns for producers.
Driving Regional Job Creation
The economic ripple effects of the industrial park are expected to span across all five sub-counties of Bomet. By transitioning from exporting raw produce to processing goods locally, the county is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the agricultural retail value.
In addition to expanding the county’s tax base, the park is projected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs in processing, logistics, security, and administration, breathing fresh economic life into the Sotik Municipality.
The high-profile groundbreaking event drew strong representation from both local administration and the business community. Key leaders present included Bomet Deputy Governor H.E. Shadrack Rotich, County Assembly Speaker Hon. Cosmas Korir, and area MCA Hon. Dennis Busienei. Also in attendance were National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), leadership from the Sotik Municipality and the office of the Sotik MP, alongside members of the Bomet County Executive.
With construction now underway, the Bomet CAIP represents a critical step forward in Kenya’s broader industrialization agenda, offering a blueprint for how agricultural counties can manufacture their way into sustainable economic growth.
