For decades, Kenya’s Jua Kali sector has stood as the backbone of grassroots manufacturing, innovation, and employment. From metal fabrication and furniture making to tailoring and automotive repair, millions of artisans continue to drive economic activity despite operating under difficult and uncertain conditions.

Yet one major obstacle continues to undermine the sector’s growth: insecure land tenure.

Industry stakeholders now say the government has a historic opportunity to transform the informal sector into a modern industrial force through structured land regularization for designated Jua Kali areas.

According to the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations (KNFJKA), securing land rights for artisans would unlock investment, improve productivity, and accelerate the formalization of thousands of small enterprises across the country.

Speaking on the matter, Nyamai Wambua said secure tenure is not merely a land issue but an economic transformation agenda.

“Without secure tenure, artisans remain trapped in temporary structures, vulnerable to evictions and unable to invest confidently in modern production facilities,” he noted.

Unlocking Investment and Modern Infrastructure

Most Jua Kali operators currently work in makeshift sheds with limited access to electricity, water, storage, and modern machinery. Experts argue that formalizing designated Jua Kali zones would pave the way for the construction of permanent and organized Common User Manufacturing Facilities.

Such facilities would enable artisans to access better machinery, safer working spaces, and improved infrastructure, significantly raising the quality and competitiveness of locally manufactured products.

Arch. Nyamai Wambua, HSC making a presentation during a Technical Working Group (TWG) at the Office of the Deputy President, Chair by Dr. Gasheri Mugao, Senior Trade Advisor to Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki, EGH.

Analysts say long-term investments cannot thrive in environments where businesses face constant uncertainty over land ownership and possible displacement.

Access to Credit Still a Major Barrier

Lack of collateral remains one of the biggest challenges facing informal enterprises.

With secure title deeds, artisans would be able to use land as collateral to access loans and financing from banks and microfinance institutions. This would allow small-scale manufacturers to purchase modern equipment, acquire raw materials in bulk, and expand operations.

Economic experts argue that unlocking affordable credit could shift many Jua Kali businesses from survival-based operations into scalable enterprises capable of creating more jobs.

Productivity and Technology Adoption

Secure and organized workspaces also encourage adoption of modern production technologies.

In sectors such as metalwork, tailoring, welding, and automotive repair, proper installation of machinery requires stable and secure locations. Stakeholders say designated industrial clusters would enhance efficiency, improve product standards, and strengthen Kenya’s local manufacturing capacity.

Protection from Evictions and Harassment

For years, informal sector operators have struggled with sudden evictions and disruptions that often destroy livelihoods overnight.

Industry leaders now want legal reforms that specifically recognize and protect Jua Kali land tenure arrangements. Such protections, they argue, would provide artisans with stability and confidence to plan for long-term business growth.

Bringing the Informal Sector into the Mainstream Economy

Formalized land systems could also help integrate the Jua Kali sector into the formal economy through improved regulation, taxation, and government support programs.

Experts note that better planning would improve occupational safety, sanitation, and access to essential amenities in many Jua Kali sites that currently operate in poor conditions.

Recent efforts by the Office of the Deputy President to establish technical working groups on land regularization have been welcomed by industry players as a crucial step toward reform.

Stakeholders say the success of the initiative will depend on how effectively the government addresses long-standing land ownership challenges affecting artisans across the country.

As Kenya pushes for industrialization and job creation, many now believe securing land tenure for the Jua Kali sector could become one of the country’s most impactful economic reforms.