Kiambu County is eyeing new partnerships with the European Union in ICT, urban development, trade, and industrialization following high level bilateral talks.

This is after Governor Kimani Wamatangi hosted an EU delegation on Wednesday led by Dr. Cristina Barrios and senior member state diplomats to showcase local investment potential and discuss the impact of Kenya’s devolution model.

 Highlighting Kiambu’s development progress over the last four years, the county showcased key projects designed to boost local economic growth and refine service delivery.

Addressing the delegation, Dr. Barrios noted that the engagement forms part of broader EU efforts to strengthen ties with Kenya while gaining deeper insights into the impact of county-level governance.

Barrios emphasized that the visit aimed to strengthen ties between the EU and Kenya, noting that both regions share a strong foundation in decentralized governance and regional administration.

She underscored devolution as a cornerstone of Kenya’s governance structure, drawing parallels to similar decentralized models widely used across European nations.

To drive economic growth in trade, ICT, and industrialization, the delegation assessed key investment destinations across the county. High on the agenda were the Githunguri County Aggregation and Industrial Park and the three hundred and twenty-five-acre Export Processing Zone located in the soon-to-be-chartered Thika Industrial City.

On his part while demonstrating Kiambu’s expanding economic base, Governor Wamatangi informed the delegation that local revenue collection had grown significantly upon his assuming of office in 2022 attaining around Sh6.5 billion in own-source revenue.

“In four years, we have managed to nearly triple our own-source revenue from Sh2.5 billion to roughly Sh6.5 billion by curbing corruption and streamlining collection efficiency,” Wamatangi stated.

Explaining the county’s fiscal structure, the governor noted that local authorities raise revenue through fees and levies rather than national taxes adding that the boost in own-source revenue has been reinvested into key public infrastructure such as modernizing local learning institutions.

Highlighting the county’s self-reliance, Governor Wamatangi shared that Kiambu has constructed more than 500 learning facilities without national government funding, significantly boosting community education access.

He also emphasized on Kiambu’s investments in agriculture and industrialization, emphasizing plans to build local markets for smallholder farmers through value addition. He revealed that the Githunguri County Aggregation and Industrial Park was now 95% complete and would soon serve as a primary hub for processing and marketing local agricultural produce.

Aiming to solidify Kiambu’s status as a key regional economic hub, Governor Kimani Wamatangi invited international partners and private investors to participate in the county’s rapid industrial expansion and high-potential projects.

The visit concluded with Governor Wamatangi highlighting Thika’s imminent elevation to city status, a milestone expected within six months that will make it Kenya’s sixth city. This transformation, paired with expanding industrial infrastructure, positions Kiambu as a prime destination for international investment and a premier model for decentralized growth in Kenya.

by Hellen Lunalo