Nakuru Courts Investors With Pro-Business Reforms, SME Financing And Infrastructure

By Suleiman Mbatiah

The County Government of Nakuru is building a more competitive business environment through investor-friendly policies, infrastructure development and financing programmes aimed at helping entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) thrive.

Deputy Governor David Kones said the county administration is working to position Nakuru as one of the country’s leading commercial and investment destinations by improving service delivery and strengthening engagement with the private sector.

He said Nakuru’s growth is reflected in new investments in petrol stations, hotels, supermarkets, shopping malls, financial institutions, transport businesses and other enterprises that are creating jobs and expanding the local economy.

“This growth is not by accident. As the County Government, we have remained committed to creating an enabling environment where businesses can invest and thrive,” Kones said when he represented Governor Susan Kihika, spoke during Riva Oil’s 30th anniversary celebrations at Sarova Woodlands Hotel.

Riva Petroleum Dealers Limited was founded by Engineer Peter Njeru Njagi in Nakuru in 1996 and has 14 Riva petrol stations in the county, which command 30 per cent of the company’s national sales, underlining the county’s importance to the firm’s business and expansion strategy in the country.

The company has grown into a multi-billion-shilling oil marketing and real estate enterprise, with more than 35 stations across the country and a presence extending into Uganda over three decades.

The DG said the county is also leveraging the Single Business Permit system, improved service delivery and a stable business environment to attract investors, ease operations and position Nakuru as a preferred destination for sustained enterprise growth.

Kones said small and medium-sized enterprises remain the backbone of the local economy, adding that the county is supporting entrepreneurs, cooperatives and SMEs through the Sh100 million Wezesha Fund.

He said the fund is meant to improve access to affordable financing, noting that when local businesses grow, they create jobs, support families and contribute to the county’s wider economic development.

The Deputy Governor said infrastructure projects are also opening new opportunities, citing the ongoing dualling of the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway and the planned dualling of Oginga Odinga Street in Nakuru City.

“We strongly believe that government and the private sector are partners, not competitors. Sustainable development happens when both work together,” he said, adding that the regime remains committed to listening to investors, addressing challenges and creating policies that encourage enterprise, innovation and long-term investment.

He added that the county is also investing in modern market infrastructure through construction and upgrading of markets to provide better trading spaces and improve livelihoods for traders and small businesses.

The Deputy Governor said companies such as Riva Oil play an important role in Nakuru’s growth by supporting sectors that depend on reliable energy, including transport, manufacturing, agriculture and commerce.

He said Riva Oil’s 30-year journey reflected resilience, consistency, sound leadership and the trust built with customers, partners, employees, suppliers, financiers, government and communities.

Kones said the anniversary theme, “30 Years of Legacy and Partnership,” captured the importance of collaboration in building sustainable businesses and creating lasting economic value.

He, while thanking Riva Oil for investing in Nakuru’s economy and creating opportunities for families, said the success of a company should not only be measured by financial performance, but also by its impact on people, communities and the economy.

The Deputy Governor invited more investors to choose Nakuru, citing the county’s strategic location, growing population, expanding infrastructure and a county government that values dialogue and collaboration.