President William Ruto has announced the development of a Ksh12 billion Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mombasa, a project he says will help transform Kenya into a production- and export-oriented economy.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Ruto said the Mombasa Special Economic Zone will provide a platform for industries to expand exports, create jobs and connect Kenyan farmers, entrepreneurs and manufacturers to domestic, regional and global value chains.
The President made the remarks at State House, Nairobi, where he witnessed the signing of a tripartite agreement between the County Government of Mombasa, Mombasa Free Zone Ltd and DP World for the development of the project.
Also Read: Ruto assents to 4 bills in major governance and legal reforms
Located on 535 acres in Jomvu, the SEZ will be linked to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and regional transport corridors, positioning it as a strategic centre for manufacturing, processing and export.
According to Ruto, the first phase of the project is expected to create 10,000 jobs while strengthening Mombasa’s role in Kenya’s economy.
The President said the development would shift Mombasa beyond its traditional role as a gateway for goods in transit to becoming a major industrial and export hub.
He said products would be made, processed, assembled and branded at the facility before being exported to markets within the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the wider African market.
“We must move away from exporting raw and minimally processed commodities,” Ruto said, stressing the need for Kenya to increase local value addition.
He said the government was seeking to promote a model where more of the country’s agricultural produce is processed locally, while increasing domestic manufacturing and production of goods currently imported.
Also Read: Isaac Rutto urges Bomet, Kericho residents to warmly welcome Ruto during 4-day tour
“Process more of what we produce, manufacture more of what we consume, and export competitive, finished products,” the President said.
Ruto described Special Economic Zones as a central component of his administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), saying they would play a key role in industrialisation and job creation.
How the new project aims for key transformation
The Mombasa project is expected to leverage the port city’s strategic location, transport infrastructure and access to regional markets to attract investors and boost Kenya’s manufacturing and export capacity.
The President said the SEZ would also strengthen linkages between farmers and manufacturers, creating opportunities for local producers to participate in higher-value domestic and international supply chains.
The development comes as the government seeks to increase value addition, expand manufacturing and reduce Kenya’s reliance on exports of raw or minimally processed commodities.
This project will help transform Kenya from an agricultural economy into a production and export-oriented economy. We must move away from exporting raw and minimally processed commodities.
Also Read: Ruto Hails Kenya-Chad Ties, Praises Déby’s Leadership
We must process more of what we produce, manufacture more of what we consume, and export competitive, finished products,” Ruto stated
If successfully implemented, the Mombasa SEZ could position the coastal city as a major manufacturing and logistics hub serving Kenya, the EAC, COMESA and other African markets.
