Kenya Attracts New Investor for $254.4M Cement Factory

Kenya has announced a new investor for a $254.4 million cement factory in Kitui County, with construction expected to commence in November 2026. This development was revealed by President William Ruto during a media engagement in Mombasa on October 1.

The new investor, whose name has not yet been disclosed, plans to visit Kitui in November to officially break ground for the factory. This project comes seven years after Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote initially sought to establish a cement factory in Kitui but faced frustrations from the previous administration's demands, which led him to invest in Tanzania instead.

President Ruto emphasized that his administration aims to create a more favorable environment for investors to prevent similar issues and ensure that Kenyans benefit from job creation and economic opportunities. He also noted that past demands for shares and bribes had discouraged significant investments in Kenya.