Investors troop to Murang'a's Wempa as industries make area attractive

Parts of lower Mitumbiri in Murang'a County, originally proposed for human settlement, have been transformed into an industrial hub, igniting a race for the land in the area.

The move has seen land prices go up as speculators and dozens of investors set up multi-million-shilling industries. Several agro-processing factories are operational kilometres away from the Gikono area, where the World Bank funded the establishment of the Sh1 billion solid waste management plant.

Eight years ago, the Progas manufacturing and refilling plant settled in Wempa, followed by the agro-processing industries, a venture that resulted in a positive impact through employment opportunities and the construction of rental houses. Murang'a County's push for industrial parks, agro-processing facilities, and commercial hubs in Delmonte Land near Wempa, according to the experts, will increase job creation.

Kakuzi and Mitubiri remain a high-growth investment zone. Former Murang'a County Assembly Speaker Nduati Kariuki, a resident of the Wempa area, says the availability of land has attracted the establishment of agro-processing industries, turning the area fully productive.

"We have factories manufacturing organic fertilisers from the raw materials available, avocado processing, creating expanded employment for our youth," said Nduati, adding that they support the value chain. Murang'a South Water Company Managing Director John Macharia said the area has been marked to provide enough water to support the existing and planned investments.

He said the water service provider, with funding from the Athi Water Works Development Agency, will be installing Kabati, Mithi, and PK lines that will ensure the industries in Mitumbiri have plenty of water. "Construction of Maragua 4 dam increases water access to areas including the Makeji Affordable Housing Programme, Murang'a County Government Industrial Park and Economic Processing Zone in Delmonte land, and others in the lower sides," said Macharia.

Real estate expert Bernard Karanja says the Mitumbiri area has the required raw materials needed by the investors, owing to the presence of building stones, water and sand.

Karanja says Kakuzi-Mitumbiri sits on the Kenol-Makuyu-Thika corridor connects well Nairobi, Murang'a Town, and surrounding commercial centres. The improved road network has increased demand for residential, commercial, and mixed-use development.

Land prices in Wempa range between Sh1.2 million and Sh2.5 million per acre, depending on location, accessibility, and infrastructure.

"Smaller portions, such as quarter- and half-acre residential or mixed-use plots, range between Sh1.8 million and Sh4 million," adds Karanja.

Kenol Municipality Manager Beatrice Gicheha says there is availability of big parcels of land to accommodate factories owing to the area's proximity to major towns like Nairobi and Thika. "The Kenol-Marua dual carriage has accessible, great developments followed by the availability of raw materials in the neighbouring areas," she said Gicheha.