Government to Create Industrial Database in New Push for Economic Transformation
In picture, Industrialization Secretary, Prof. Erastus Gatebe, during the launch of development and industrial database for industries in Nairobi County, at the MITI office in Nairobi.
By Aoma Keziah,
The government of Kenya has launched an initiative to map, geo-locate, and create a comprehensive database of the country’s industries, signaling a pivotal step toward accelerating industrial growth under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Speaking during the Stakeholder Meeting on Mapping, Geo-location of Industries and Development of the Industrial Database and Directory, Industrialization Secretary Prof. Erastus Gatebe , speaking on behalf of the Principal Secretary, State Department for Industrialization Dr. Juma Mukhwana, emphasized the critical role data plays in policy formulation, strategic planning, and infrastructure development.
“This activity is a clear indication of the Government’s commitment and seriousness in its efforts towards Kenya’s industrialization journey. It supports our vision under BETA to significantly raise the manufacturing sector’s contribution to the national GDP,” Prof. Gatebe said.
He highlighted the irreplaceable role of statistics in national planning, cautioning against the chaos that ensues in the absence of credible data.
“Can you pose a bit and think of a world without statistics? There will be chaos in planning, confusion in resource allocation and utilization, uninformed decision-making, and too much wastage,” he stated
He also explained that the goal of the exercise is not only to generate maps and directories but to create an integrated digital and physical infrastructure that accurately reflects the state of manufacturing across Kenya. The initiative aims to Develop a comprehensive online industrial database, create both physical and electronic directories of industries, build a geo-database using integrated survey technologies capturing geographical coordinates and industrial attributes, Produce a State of Manufacturing Report, and develop an Assessment Report highlighting industrial growth opportunities.
The initiative is seen as a cornerstone for data-driven decision-making, improved investment facilitation, efficient resource management, and better alignment of skills with market demands. It also supports policy implementation for key frameworks such as the National Industrialization Policy (NIP) and the National Automotive Policy (NAP).
“There is currently no single, comprehensive directory profiling Kenya’s manufacturing sector—its productive capacities, workforce, raw materials, and supply chains. This limits our ability to implement targeted, effective industrial policies. The directory we are creating will serve as both a tool for policymakers and a gateway for manufacturers to access new markets,” Gatebe noted.
Additionally, he commended the collaboration with Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), who will provide technical expertise and ensure compliance with the Statistics Act 2006.
In conclusion, he reaffirmed the importance of the project, stating that Mapping, geo-location, and the development of a robust industrial database are foundational to achieving our economic development goals.
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