Five UK companies to invest in Machakos

British High Commissioner Dr Christian Turner at his Muthaiga residence on February 13, 2014. He said five UK companies had shown interest in investing in Machakos County. PHOTO/DIANA NGILA

What you need to know:

  • The companies will have a bias in Infrastructure and housing
  • Dr Turner's visit aimed at exploiting opportunities for deeper commercial engagement between UK firms and Machakos County

Five British companies have shown interest in establishing businesses in Machakos county.

The British High Commission to Kenya Dr Christian Turner says the companies will have a bias in Infrastructure and housing.

Dr Turner was speaking in Machakos town when he made a daylong visit to the county. He first met with Governor Dr Alfred Mutua and held a closed door consultative meeting which lasted for two hours.

Dr Turner’s visit aimed at exploiting opportunities for deeper commercial engagement between UK firms and Machakos County.

His team later visited the Machakos County Assembly.

Dr Mutua said the county supports efforts by the national government to cut down on expenditures but said it should target the right source in doing so.

'’The problem with the national government is that alot of money is wasted on non-essential areas, this is where the government should widen its scope’’, he said.

Dr Mutua said the county has already embarked on cutting down on expenses and gave an example of the 33 kilometer Makutano-Kithimani road which he said experts from the national government had put the price at Sh1.3 billion.

'’But we are now constructing the road at a cost of Sh630 million, the money we will save here will be injected in other needy sectors’’, he said

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission vice chairperson Irene Keino attended the private talks between the two leaders.

Ms Keino said corrupt practices was to blame for the high cost of doing business in the country.

She said EACC will work closely with county governments in a bid to ensure that service delivery is free from corruption.