Kenya moves to fortify electronics manufacturing through industry collaboration
Date: 2026-03-16
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy in
Kenya, William Kabogo Gitau has held consultations with industry leaders aimed
at strengthening the country’s electrical and electronic manufacturing sector.
The
meeting brought together representatives from the manufacturing industry led by
Tobias Alando, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Association of
Manufacturers, to discuss strategies for expanding Kenya’s electronics and
electrical assembly industry through improved policies and targeted incentives.
According
to the cabinet secretary, the government will continue reviewing regulations
and policies to support electronics manufacturers and smartphone assemblers,
with the aim of encouraging greater investment in the local assembly of
electronic and electrical components.
Participants
at the meeting agreed to establish a Joint Sector Working Group bringing
together key government ministries and industry players to develop a
comprehensive policy proposal for the sector.
Discussions
also focused on addressing operational challenges affecting manufacturers,
including slow import processes for electronic components and regulatory delays
that disrupt production timelines and affect global competitiveness.
Officials
said resolving these challenges could stimulate job creation, strengthen
Kenya’s digital economy and position the country as a leading electronics
manufacturing hub in Africa.
The
meeting was attended by government officials including Mary Kerema, Secretary
for ICT, Digital Economy and Emerging Technologies, and Washington Okoth,
Secretary for ICT and Digital Infrastructure, alongside representatives from
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, M-KOPA and several
local manufacturing companies.
