By Shadrack Nyakoe
President William Ruto has highlighted the pivotal role of Kenya’s manufacturing sector in achieving the national development blueprint, Vision 2030, which targets a 10% annual economic growth rate.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for Devki Steel Mills in Manga, Taita Taveta County, Ruto emphasized the sector’s importance as Kenya’s second-largest employer, directly providing jobs to 363,000 people and indirectly supporting numerous livelihoods.
Ruto reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering industrial growth under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
He announced ambitious plans to raise the manufacturing sector’s GDP contribution to 15% by 2027 and 20% by 2030 through strategic investments and an enabling business climate.
The President lauded the Devki Steel Mills project as a testament to Kenya’s industrial future, emphasizing its alignment with the nation’s vision for inclusive growth and equitable opportunities.
He described the expansion as a bold step toward industrial transformation, reaffirming the government’s dedication to realizing shared development aspirations.
