Uasin Gishu County is courting Polish investors to set up factories and processing plants in Eldoret. Governor Jonathan Bii wants the North Rift's farm-based economy to move beyond selling raw produce.

Bii hosted a delegation led by Anna Bańkowska, Deputy Marshal of Poland's West Pomeranian Region, at the county headquarters. The delegation included representatives of 12 Polish companies on a three-day visit of meetings and site tours.

Who came and what they want

The firms work in several sectors:

  • Agricultural machinery and fertiliser production
  • Food-processing equipment and cosmetics
  • Railway engineering and industrial technology
  • Cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

County reports say the talks also covered milk cooling infrastructure, mechanisation and value addition for local crops. The visit was arranged with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency and the Polish Embassy.

KNCCI's Uasin Gishu chapter chairman Willy Kenei presented opportunities under the Export Processing Zones Authority programme. He pitched the county as a site for manufacturing and value-addition plants.

From raw produce to factories

"Our county is increasingly attracting attention as a destination for investment," Bii said. He said the county wants investors who bring technology, skills and capital. He added that it wants partnerships that create jobs for young people and better markets for farmers.

Eldoret was upgraded to city status in August 2024. It is the commercial centre of the North Rift, where maize, wheat and dairy farming dominate. County leaders argue that processing more of this produce locally would keep more of the value, and the jobs, in the region.

Bańkowska said her country was ready to do business with the county. "Poland is ready to invest and collaborate with Uasin Gishu county," she said. She said the delegation hoped to share knowledge and build long-term business ties. She credited the governor for making the engagement possible.

Health equipment donated

Separately, the county says the Polish government donated blood pressure machines and thermometers to help with patient monitoring in county health facilities.

Talk must turn into deals

No signed agreements or investment figures have been announced so far. Counties across the country are competing to attract private investors. For Uasin Gishu, the real test will be whether the goodwill from the visit turns into factories, jobs and steady markets for farmers, and not just diplomatic statements.

Photos: County Government of Uasin Gishu / The Star (Governor Jonathan Bii with the Polish delegation). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.