This archive report was first published on 26 August 2021.
Located in the Vipingo manufacturing hub, the factory is a testament to the region's growing industrial potential, with Centum's Vipingo Development Limited at the forefront of this development.
According to Vipingo Development Limited Chief Executive Ken Mbae, the factory's proximity to the Port of Mombasa is a major draw for investors, as it will save on transport costs for imported raw materials, enabling them to sell finished products at a discount to competition.
"This is possibly the best place to set up your manufacturing business in close proximity to the port," Mbae noted.
The factory, valued at over Ksh1 billion, will have a processing capacity of more than 6,000 tonnes of raw cashewnuts, creating an opportunity for many farmers at the Coast who grow cashewnuts as a cash crop.
A consortium of international investors in the food processing and value addition sectors acquired development rights from VDL and are behind the project.
With civil works already completed and prefabricated go-downs being set up, the factory is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2022, with at least 1,000 jobs created and the Kilifi county economy boosted.
Modular construction techniques involving the use of prefabricated modules or units are being employed to speed up construction, with the aim of having the plant operational in the first quarter of 2022.
"The use of modular construction technology means the project will be operational by quarter one of 2022 and have an immediate impact on the economy of Kilifi county and beyond," Mbae stated.
