Ruto Announces KSh32 Billion Bamburi Cement Plant in Kwale, Reveals Timeline

President William Ruto has announced that he will soon break ground for a new Bamburi Cement clinker manufacturing plant in Matuga, Kwale County, as the government accelerates efforts to boost local production of construction materials and slash reliance on imports.

Ruto revealed the upcoming project on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, during a groundbreaking ceremony for another clinker plant, a Devki Group facility in Ngaaie, Kitui County.

“In about three weeks, I will be in Matuga, Kwale County, to break ground for Bamburi Cement’s expansion, which will include a new clinker production plant with a capacity of 5,000 tonnes per day,” the president said.

The planned facility is expected to significantly strengthen Kenya’s cement manufacturing industry, create extensive job opportunities, and stimulate local businesses.

Major Capacity Expansion

The proposed Matuga plant, designed to produce 1.6 million tonnes of clinker annually, forms the core of a massive expansion. Bamburi Cement expects the new facility to boost its annual clinker production capacity from one million tonnes to 2.6 million tonnes.

Correspondingly, the company’s overall cement production capacity is anticipated to jump from 1.8 million tonnes to four million tonnes annually. This added capacity will enable Bamburi to meet the surging demand from Kenya’s dynamic construction sector, which is driven by major infrastructure and housing projects.

Bamburi Cement already solidified its commitment to the project, signing a $250 million (approximately Ksh32 billion) engineering, procurement, and construction contract with a Chinese firm, Sinoma CBMI Construction Co. Ltd., in December 2025 – a ceremony witnessed by President Ruto himself.

Reducing Reliance on Imports

Clinker is a critical intermediate raw material in cement manufacturing. Kenya’s significant reliance on clinker imports has historically exposed local cement producers to volatile international supply costs and foreign exchange fluctuations.

Ruto explained that the government introduced the Export and Investment Promotion Levy on imported clinker in 2023 to actively encourage local production and attract investment into domestic manufacturing.

The president argued that manufacturing more clinker domestically would retain economic value within the country, facilitate technical skills development, and create sustainable employment opportunities for Kenyans.

Beyond construction-phase jobs, the Matuga project is expected to generate sustained employment during subsequent operations and unlock extensive opportunities for local businesses supplying transport, construction materials, equipment, and ancillary services.

Ruto affirmed the government’s continued commitment to working alongside private investors to ensure industrial projects result in jobs, stronger local enterprises, and increased economic activity. He also highlighted the government’s responsibility to provide reliable infrastructure, efficient public services, and a predictable investment environment to support manufacturing growth.

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