Kenya Leather Development Council Steers Leather Industry Towards Economic Growth
By John KariukiThe Kenya Leather Development Council (KLDC), under the visionary leadership of Chief Executive Officer Dr. Issak Noor, is spearheading efforts to position Kenya’s leather industry as a key driver of the country’s economic growth. Through strategic initiatives aimed at value addition and manufacturing, KLDC is working to elevate the sector’s contribution to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).On Monday, Dr. Noor joined Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in an inspection tour of the Kenya Leather Industrial Park (KLIP) in Kenanie, Machakos County. The park is a flagship government project designed to enhance leather processing and manufacturing capacity.The KLDC envisions transformative outcomes for the leather industry, with projections to increase the sector’s annual contribution from the current KSh 15 billion to KSh 175 billion. Additionally, job opportunities in the industry are expected to rise significantly, from 17,000 to 100,000.Kenya’s economic transformation hinges on the growth of value addition and manufacturing across key sectors. In line with this vision, the government has made substantial progress in developing KLIP’s infrastructure. A state-of-the-art common user effluent treatment plant has been completed to ensure efficient water treatment for leather manufacturing. This facility will also serve Export Processing Zone (EPZ) factories along Mombasa Road and Athi River, as well as the leather factories within KLIP.Furthermore, four warehouses have been constructed—two dedicated to turning raw hides and skins into leather and two for manufacturing finished leather products. Ongoing infrastructure work includes the installation of electricity and water systems and the deployment of permanent security services to ensure smooth operations.During the visit, Dr. Noor and the Deputy President assessed the progress of ongoing works and outlined the remaining deliverables to ensure compliance with the Presidential directive for completion by March 31, 2025. The expedited completion of KLIP is expected to catalyze Kenya’s journey toward industrialization and global competitiveness in the leather industry.KLDC’s unwavering commitment to boosting the leather industry reflects its dedication to driving Kenya’s economic growth and improving livelihoods across the country. With the completion of KLIP, the leather sector is set to become a cornerstone of Kenya’s manufacturing agenda, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for value addition, job creation, and sustainable development. Read More
