President William Ruto has directed developers and contractors of the new Sh12 billion Mombasa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to complete infrastructure works within six months, demanding a swift shift from paper agreements to active industrial production.
Speaking on Tuesday at State House, Nairobi, President Ruto witnessed the signing of a landmark tripartite agreement between the County Government of Mombasa, Mombasa Free Zone Limited, and Dubai-based global logistics firm DP World. The project, located on a 535-acre parcel in Jomvu Sub-County, represents a foreign direct investment exceeding $100 million. It is projected to create 7,972 direct jobs and attract dozens of manufacturing and assembly enterprises.
Addressing delegation members, President Ruto emphasized that Kenya must transition away from exporting unrefined raw commodities only to re-import finished goods at inflated costs. He ordered key access roads serving the zone to be completed within 120 days.
“To all the parties signing this agreement today, my message is simple; move with speed,” President Ruto said during the signing ceremony. “Let us move from signatures to implementation; from plans to infrastructure; from commitments to investment; and from investment to factories, exports, and jobs.”
The President noted that the new zone forms part of his administration’s economic plan to position Mombasa as a manufacturing powerhouse. To lower operational overheads for incoming investors, the national government pledged a preferential electricity tariff of Sh10 per kilowatt-hour for manufacturers setting up inside the facility.
GulfCap Group Chairman Suleiman Shahbal, whose firm partnered in delivering the framework, welcomed the execution of the deal, describing it as a transformative milestone for the coastal economy. More than 60 international and regional companies have already expressed operational interest in establishing bases at the location.
Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir attended the event. Government agencies have begun consolidating Export Processing Zones and Special Economic Zone frameworks to streamline administrative procedures for commercial tenants.