Inside Nairobi Gate Industrial Park (NGIP) SEZ
Nairobi Gate Industrial Park (NGIP) Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a privately developed Special Economic Zone located along the Eastern Bypass in Nairobi County, about 20km from the city center and strategically positioned to tap into the country’s industrial base.
Background:
NGIP SEZ sits on a 103 acre parcel of land, fully consolidated and developed by Improvon Group with oversight still from the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA). It was designated as an SEZ in 2019 and became fully operational in 2023.
Located 15km from JKIA, 40km from Inland Container Depot in Embakasi and with easy connectivity to SGR and Northern Corridor routes; this proximity makes it a logistics and distribution hub with metropolitan access.
It is notably first SEZ in East Africa to have a gazetted, consolidated Customs Control Area (CCA). This where where customs inspection, revenue clearance and related regulatory actions occur inside the park perimeter at customs gatehouses and weighbridges, rather than sending trucks off-site.
Operations:
NGIP offers built-to-suit solutions whereby the industrial space is designed and constructed based on the specific requirements of the tenant with a construction time of up to one year.
NGIP is developed and operated by Impact North (KE)—a platform created by Improvon Group (a regional industrial/logistics developer based in South Africa) in partnership with Actis, the private equity investor.
NGIP operates as a fully serviced, master-planned industrial park, focusing on warehousing, logistics, light manufacturing and distribution. The management provides serviced plots, build-to-suit and standard shells. The development of also enjoys all incentives that comes from being a SEZ.
NGIP has dedicated gatehouses/weighbridges and an on-site one-stop arrangement with customs and related agencies; allowing many clearances and inspections to occur inside the park perimeter, reducing off-site trips and dwell time. There are also 35+ mini units for SMEs and full scale boxes for regional DCs.
One of the challenges as with other private SEZs is the heavy upfront infrastructure costs borne by the investor, with phased rollouts depending on uptake.
Development Status:
Investors pumped USD 40 million for its development and committed an extra USD 160 million before end of 2027. Reports suggest that 500 direct jobs were created when operationalized with 10,000 in the pipeline.
The first phase is fully complete with 10km of horizontal infrastructure such as internal roads, sewer lines, ICT cabling and 24/7 security fully operational. There is also a dedicated power substation which ensures consistent supply of up to 5 MW of electricity. Water supply is also available at 6,500 cubic meters. Available warehousing units for letting/selling are from 5,300 – 320,000 sqft. Total rentable are is currently at 2,150,000 sqft. Land available for sale is made available from 5 acres.
Some of the notable developments include:
- Consolidated Customs Area (CCA) – occupies 25 acres and with the in-park capability, it has attracted interest from exporters, 3PLs and manufacturers seeking bonded storage and faster export cycles.
- Textile Precinct – a 100,000sqm Textile Park dedicated to the textile and apparel industries with A-grade manufacturing and warehousing facilities of between 5,000 sqm and 10,000 sqm.
- Mara precinct – still underway and expected to deliver at least 194,000 sqft of premium, modern light industrial facilities. The development offers flexible leasing options ranging from 10,000 sqft to 120,000 sqft and will be available to lease from February 2026. Jobs to be created are approximated to 200 jobs.
In general, several Grade-A warehouses already operational; cold chain and FMCG facilities established. In April 2025, the mini unit development was edge certified having achieved 30% energy savings, 33% water savings and 52% less embodied carbon in materials.
Some of the entities already operating there include:
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – A leading global humanitarian organization focused on crisis response and aid delivery. The ICRC established a bonded logistics warehouse to speed humanitarian logistics for the region (storage, customs facilitation and rapid dispatch).
- Bolloré Transport & Logistics – A major international transport and logistics company offering contract logistics, freight, and supply chain services across multiple sectors. The facility supports their contract logistics and warehousing operations, particularly for FMCG, beverages, retail, manufacturing, and even aid and relief cargo.
- Ramco Group – A diversified Kenyan conglomerate with interests in manufacturing, packaging, office supplies, hardware, and property. They signed a lease for a purpose-built factory with warehousing, office buildings and a client collections centre.
Conclusion:
The model adopted by Nairobi Gate SEZ provides a blueprint for private sector–led industrialization: competitive, efficient, and globally benchmarked. With more investments coming in, it could cement its position as the premier logistics and light-manufacturing hub for East Africa. They even have a live walkthrough the zone supported by google earth in real time. Impressive!
This expansion will provide world-class infrastructure, streamlined customs and a business-friendly environment that enables both local and international companies to operate efficiently and grow sustainably
Dean Shillaw, MD of NGIP
For more information, reach out to us via info@rickfes.co.ke
At Rickfes Construction Ltd, we are keen to receive and facilitate investors—local or international; seeking to establish their developments into this SEZ. Our role is to be your development partner, liaison and local representative on the ground while in setting up in this SEZ.
