This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
Nairobi's Kariokor Leather Factory to Get Major Revamp ¶
Published on June 25, 2020, Nairobi County Government and the Kenya Leather Development Council (KLDC) have entered into a partnership to revamp the Kariokor Leather Factory.
The deal aims to increase the factory's production capacity to 10 million shoes annually, up from the current 2 million, and provide an additional 10,000 jobs to city residents within three years.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko emphasized that the youth would be the biggest beneficiaries of the rehabilitation programme, stating, “These job opportunities will be created within a span of three years and are tailored to benefit majorly of the youth in the county.”
KLDC Chief Executive Isaac Noor highlighted the adoption of modern technology, saying, “The move will not only create more jobs, but also see Nairobians benefit from the raw materials obtained from our livestock such as hides and skins. This will also mean that there is going to be additional revenue created for the county government.”
The partnership is expected to increase traders' annual income to more than Sh1 billion annually by 2022 and enhance the quality of leather products for export to the larger Eastern and Central African markets.
A management board will be created by the leather council, the county, and national government, incorporating other stakeholders to ensure effective management of the facility.
