MOMBASA, Kenya — The government has appealed to political leaders to avoid actions and statements that could undermine investor confidence, saying multi-billion-shilling investments nearing completion at the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) are expected to create jobs, strengthen Kenya’s energy sector and position the country as a regional manufacturing and logistics hub.
Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui made the remarks during an inspection tour of the Taifa Gas and Milly Glass investment projects at the Dongo Kundu SEZ on Thursday.
Kinyanjui said Kenya continues to attract investors from across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas due to policies aimed at promoting investment and improving the ease of doing business.
“Kenya has deliberately structured its investment policies to attract investors from across the world. These investments create employment, stimulate economic growth and benefit all Kenyans regardless of political affiliation,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary cautioned that political disagreements should not be allowed to overshadow the country’s economic agenda, warning that negative rhetoric could discourage both local and foreign investors.
He said maintaining investor confidence remains critical as Kenya seeks to attract more capital into strategic sectors including manufacturing, logistics and energy.
Kinyanjui also linked investor confidence to the country’s tourism industry, noting that continued political stability plays an important role in sustaining international arrivals and broader economic growth.
Gas Facility in Final Construction
The Taifa Gas liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) facility, one of the anchor investments within the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, is expected to be completed within the next three to four months.
Once operational, the facility will have the capacity to store and refill approximately 30,000 metric tonnes of LPG, reducing Kenya’s reliance on neighbouring countries for gas processing while supporting domestic consumption and regional exports.
Kinyanjui described the project as a significant step towards strengthening Kenya’s energy infrastructure and enhancing the country’s position as a regional logistics hub.
“Instead of transporting gas to neighbouring countries for refilling, Kenya will now become a regional processing centre, creating new economic opportunities and reducing operational costs,” he said.
Project officials said construction has entered its final phase, with hydrostatic testing of the pressurised storage tanks currently underway under the supervision of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
Pipeline installation has also commenced following the delivery of all key construction materials.
Officials attributed the project’s progress to close collaboration between government agencies, saying approvals have been processed more efficiently through an integrated approach that brings regulators directly to the project site.
The model, they said, has significantly reduced bureaucratic delays that often slow major investments.
Strategic Investment Hub
Several other industrial projects are also under development within the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone as the government seeks to transform the area into a major centre for manufacturing, logistics and export-oriented industries.
Kinyanjui said the investments complement Kenya’s broader strategy of leveraging the ports of Mombasa and Lamu to strengthen the country’s position in regional and international trade.
He noted that improved infrastructure and expanding industrial capacity are expected to increase Kenya’s competitiveness within the East African market while attracting additional foreign direct investment.
The Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, located south of Mombasa, is one of Kenya’s flagship industrialisation projects established to attract export-oriented manufacturing, logistics and value-addition industries. Supported by the Dongo Kundu Bypass, the Standard Gauge Railway and the Port of Mombasa, the SEZ is expected to play a central role in advancing Kenya’s industrialisation agenda, creating employment and boosting regional trade under the country’s Vision 2030 development strategy.
