Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) has officially entered the Kenyan market with the establishment of a multi-site network of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and industrial parks across Kilifi, Mombasa, Naivasha, and Eldoret, a move expected to catalyze Kenya’s industrial transformation and economic diversification.
The development marks a major investment in Kenya’s manufacturing and export sectors, positioning the country as a strategic production and trade hub within the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Kenya is also set to leverage global trade opportunities through frameworks such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Speaking during a media breakfast in Nairobi, ARISE IIP Kenya CEO George Olaka said the company is committed to supporting the government’s industrialization agenda through strategic investments and world-class infrastructure.
“Kenya is the gateway to East Africa and beyond, with a strong policy framework and a conducive environment for industrialization,” said Mr. Olaka. “Through our integrated industrial platforms, we aim to attract both local and foreign investment while providing manufacturers with the ecosystem they need to compete globally.”
In September, ARISE IIP launched its first Kenyan project, the Vipingo Special Economic Zone, an 824-hectare industrial park in Kilifi County developed in partnership with Centum Investment Company.
The firm’s next projects include the Coast Integrated Industrial Park within the Dongo Kundu SEZ in Mombasa and the Great Rift Industrial Park within the Naivasha SEZ in Nakuru, both developed in collaboration with the Government of Kenya and Afreximbank.
A major highlight of ARISE IIP’s expansion is the 21-year lease of Rivatex East Africa SEZ Limited in Eldoret, Kenya’s largest textile manufacturer. The partnership, announced in October, aims to rejuvenate the country’s cotton, textile, and apparel (CTA) value chain, which holds immense potential for job creation and export growth.
“Developing our cotton and apparel value chain means creating jobs, stabilizing the country’s foreign exchange position, and expanding the tax base,” said Mr. Olaka. “Through our lease of Rivatex, we are building a comprehensive textile hub that will impact the entire value chain, from cotton farmers to garment producers.”
The four industrial platforms are projected to attract over USD 3 billion in blended investment, creating more than 100,000 direct jobs and at least 500,000 indirect jobs once fully operational.
To support investor financing, ARISE IIP has established an $800 million joint facility with KCB Bank Kenya and Afreximbank, providing affordable capital to businesses setting up within its SEZs in Vipingo, Dongo Kundu, and Naivasha.
“Given the scale of our projects, collaboration between government, the private sector, and development finance institutions is essential. Together, we can accelerate the shared goal of building a globally competitive, industrialized Africa,” added Mr. Olaka.
ARISE IIP currently operates 20 industrial platforms across 14 African countries, focusing on enabling local transformation of natural resources into value-added products for regional and global markets.