The Kenyan manufacturing sector has the potential to transform the Kenyan economy and kick-start a process of industrialisation that could create hundreds of thousands of jobs and improve livelihoods across the country. However, to make this a reality by 2022, it will take a concerted and coordinated effort by both government and the private sector.

Kenya has a number of great strengths, such as its geographical position in the region, its resilience and vibrant informal economy. Nonetheless, there are significant hurdles to overcome in the areas of land ownership, access to long-term finance, the business environment and access to reliable energy sources, to name just a few, if these strengths are to be fully capitalised upon in the quest for an industrialised national economy.

Developed by SET in partnership with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), this policy briefing addresses Kenya's current economic predicament and makes the case for political and financial investment in manufacturing. The central 10-point policy plan lays out seven policies and regulations that should be enacted to create an environment in which the sector can flourish, and three further suggestions for how to implement them in practice.

Report by the Overseas Development Institute