By KPC Reporter
The Board of Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) has appointed Nelson Kwamini as the institution’s new Managing Director following a competitive recruitment process conducted by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
Prior to the appointment, Kwamini served at the Kenya Water Institute (KEWI) under the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Sanitation as Director of Research, Strategy and Business Development.
He has previously held senior roles at Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Sidian Bank and the Universities Fund, where he served as Director of Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships.
Speaking during the announcement, Susan Mang’eni, Principal Secretary in the State Department for MSMEs Development, welcomed Kwamini to the country’s dynamic MSME sector.
Mang’eni said KIE plays a vital role in supporting the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritises the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises as key drivers of economic transformation.
“Kenya Industrial Estates plays a critical role in advancing Kenya’s ambition to grow the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to 20 percent by 2030,” she said.
She added that by offering financing of up to Ksh 20 million to manufacturers and cottage industries, the institution remains a key pillar in nurturing local enterprise, promoting industrial growth and creating jobs across the country.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Kwamini thanked the board and government for the opportunity to lead the development finance institution at a time when the country is focusing on strengthening manufacturing and expanding opportunities for MSMEs.
“This appointment comes at a pivotal moment in delivering Kenya’s manufacturing promise,” he said.
“I look forward to working closely with the Ministry, the Board and stakeholders across the ecosystem to strengthen Kenya’s manufacturing base and empower more MSMEs to scale and thrive.”
KIE is a state corporation and development finance institution under the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development.
The agency’s mandate is to promote entrepreneurship and industrialisation by providing medium- and long-term development finance of up to Ksh 20 million to indigenous MSMEs, while also supporting enterprise incubation programmes aimed at improving business survival, growth and competitiveness.