By Andrew Mbuva.
Kenya’s leather industry is set for a major boost following the government’s announcement of plans to establish a state-of-the-art leather testing laboratory at the Kenanie Leather Industrial Park.
Principal Secretary for Industrialization Juma Mukhwana said the laboratory, funded through a Sh5 billion grant from the Italian government, will enable Kenyan leather manufacturers to test and certify their products to international standards.
Speaking after leading investors on a tour of the industrial park, Mukhwana said the facility would help Kenyan manufacturers overcome one of the major barriers to accessing international markets.
“We want to create a glass lab to international standards, so that it’s able to test and approve leather products for global markets,” Mukhwana said.
He said the laboratory would be equipped to facilitate certification of leather products for markets in the European Union, United States, China, India and the wider East African Community.
According to Mukhwana, the facility will also save investors the cost of establishing individual testing laboratories, while improving the quality and competitiveness of locally manufactured leather products.
The PS challenged the Kenya Leather Development Council (KLDC) to move with speed and demonstrate tangible progress at the park, which was established in 2016 but has yet to realise its full industrial potential.
He urged the agency to intensify efforts to attract investors, increase leather production and develop policies that encourage greater private-sector participation.
Mukhwana said Kenya has a huge opportunity to become a regional leather manufacturing hub, given its large livestock population and access to markets across the region.
He, however, noted that the sector remains fragmented, with some small-scale manufacturers forced to import leather and other raw materials despite the country's abundant livestock resources.
He said production at Kenanie would serve Kenya as well as regional markets in Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The government has invested in upgrading infrastructure at the industrial park, including roads, electricity, water and security installations. Plans are also underway to develop affordable housing, schools, hospitals, shopping centres and recreational facilities to support workers and residents around the park.
Mukhwana cited Egypt as an example of what Kenya could achieve, noting that the North African country has established more than 200 tanneries in about a decade.
“Ten years of potential is too long. We must move from talking about possibilities to actual investments,” he said.
Investors welcomed the government's renewed focus on the leather sector, saying the developments at Kenanie could create new opportunities for local and international players.
Shun Qiang Cui, an investor from Hong Kong, said his company has partnered with Kenya in the leather industry for more than 20 years and expressed confidence that the new investment would provide an opportunity to contribute further to the growth of the sector.
“We trust this is a good opportunity to contribute to the growth of Kenya's leather industry,” Cui said.
Kennedy Waiyaki, Director of ReaLeather Limited, called on the government to strengthen policies that make Kenya an attractive destination for private investment.
Waiyaki particularly urged the government to consider favourable taxation policies to enable investors to establish and expand leather manufacturing businesses.
The planned laboratory is expected to become a critical component of the Kenanie Leather Industrial Park, providing quality assurance and certification services while helping Kenyan leather products meet the requirements of lucrative international markets.
If fully implemented, the project could mark a significant step in Kenya’s efforts to transform its livestock resources into high-value finished leather products, create jobs and position the country as a major leather manufacturing and trading hub in the region.
