The leather sector in Kenya has received a significant boost following the commissioning of the Ksh.1.5 billion Ewaso Ng’iro Tannery and Leather Factory in Narok County by President William Ruto.
Speaking during the launch, President Ruto hailed the factory as a flagship government project aimed at revamping the leather value chain through local processing and manufacturing. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to halting shoe imports and focusing instead on value addition using local raw materials.
“We want to discourage importation of shoes from other countries and instead embrace value addition of our hides and skins,” said the President. “By importing shoes, we are denying our youth job opportunities.”
To support the factory’s operations, the President announced an additional Ksh.400 million allocation for acquiring equipment, mopping up hides, and expanding footwear production. He also encouraged pastoralists to adopt improved flaying techniques to enhance hide quality, which would increase market value and income.
The upgraded tannery is now capable of processing 4,800 metric tonnes of hides and skins annually, producing 4.8 million square feet of finished leather. It is expected to create 150 direct jobs and over 3,000 indirect jobs across the leather supply chain.
Earlier in the day, President Ruto also opened two fresh produce markets in Suswa and Ntulele, part of his administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. He assured Kenyans of his commitment to fulfilling development pledges, adding that 260 of the planned 400 markets are under various stages of completion.
