Italy has committed to revitalizing the leather and tanning industry in Kenya and the broader East and Central African region, with Equity Bank playing a pivotal role as the financial partner in the initiative.
During a stakeholder meeting at the Equity Centre in Nairobi, Italian Ambassador to Kenya, Roberto Natali, emphasized the importance of this initiative in strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in the leather sector.
“A delegation of leather industry experts and players from Italy is here with me, ready to explore ways to build capacity, establish more tanneries, and help develop and maintain an efficient leather supply chain in East and Central Africa. These efforts are aimed at adding value to the over five million skins of animals that go to waste yearly in Kenya,”
— Roberto Natali, Ambassador of Italy to Kenya
Natali expressed confidence in Kenya’s potential to become a regional leader in leather production, citing its substantial livestock resources and improving infrastructure. The Italian delegation’s itinerary includes site visits to farms, slaughterhouses, tanneries, and leather product manufacturers.
Welcoming the collaboration, Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke, through Kenya Leather Development Council CEO Dr. Isaack Noor, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing the sector. This includes workforce training and building necessary infrastructure, such as the Kenanie Leather Industrial Park.
“We are keen on increasing the supply of quality hides and skins by training slaughterhouse staff, developing the necessary infrastructure such as the Kenanie Leather Industrial Park in Machakos County, to facilitate aggregation for smallholder farmers as well as negotiating global agreements and supporting skills development,”
— Dr. Isaack Noor, CEO, Kenya Leather Development Council
Dr. Noor also assured foreign investors that their investments would be protected under Kenyan law.
Equity Group’s Chief Strategy Officer, Brent Malahay, outlined the bank’s role in supporting the sector through its Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP). He noted the leather industry as a key growth area alongside energy and transport.
“Illustrating Equity’s diverse investment focus, sectors like transport and energy have also been prioritized for investment. Kenya also has a competitive advantage, which positions the country to soon become a regional or even global hub in the leather sector,”
— Brent Malahay, Chief Strategy Officer, Equity Group
He further explained that Equity aims to provide financial access to 13 registered tanneries, nearly 50 large slaughterhouses, over 300 medium-scale facilities, and more than 1,700 slaughter slabs.
The Italian delegation included representatives from leading leather institutions—UNPAC, UNIC, and ICEC—specializing in leather chemicals, tanning, and certification. They engaged with Kenyan enterprises such as Farmers Choice, Reddamac Leather Centre, Ikwetta, and Alpharama.
Agostino Apolito, General Director of ASSOMAC, emphasized Italy’s commitment to sharing expertise and market access with African stakeholders.
“Italy is a global leader in the leather products industry, and we want to work with Kenyan and African farmers and other leather industry players to support them through skills and technology transfer and enhanced European market access,”
— Agostino Apolito, General Director, ASSOMAC
Sambasiva Rao Pamidimukkala, Managing Director of Alpharama Tannery, shared how Equity’s support helped the company grow and expand across East Africa while maintaining high-quality standards.
“We continue to support farmers and help them maintain quality of skins and hides, even as we eye expansion across the region,”
— Sambasiva Rao Pamidimukkala, Managing Director, Alpharama Tannery
This initiative builds on discussions held four months earlier and aligns with an ongoing cooperation between Equity Bank and the Kenya Investment Authority to drive investment—starting with Kenya’s promising leather industry.
