Ruto Reveals New Investor for Planned Ksh33 Billion Kitui Cement Factory

Ruto Reveals New Investor for Planned Ksh33 Billion Kitui Cement Factory

President William Ruto has announced that Kenya has secured a new investor to establish a Ksh33 billion cement factory in Kitui County, reviving plans for a major industrial project that has remained unresolved for several years.

Ruto said the investor was already in place and that he planned to visit Kitui in November 2026 to officially launch construction of the proposed cement factory.

Speaking during a media engagement in Mombasa on Thursday night, October 1, the President said the investment was part of efforts by his administration to attract large-scale projects by improving Kenya’s business environment.

“The investor is already around, and I will be soon visiting Kitui, probably next month, to break ground for the factory, which will cost Ksh33 billion.”

The planned factory is expected to add to Kenya’s cement production capacity while creating investment and employment opportunities in Kitui County.

Dangote’s Earlier Kitui Cement Plan

Ruto also recalled an earlier attempt by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote to establish a cement factory in Kitui.

According to the President, Dangote had previously approached the Kenyan government with plans for a major cement investment but eventually abandoned the project and established a major operation in Tanzania instead.

Ruto said the proposed Kitui project could have been implemented several years ago but faced challenges that discouraged the investor.

“Dangote could have done the work seven years ago, but unfortunately he was frustrated so he chose to invest in Tanzania.”

The President recalled that while serving as Deputy President, he took Dangote to State House for discussions with former President Uhuru Kenyatta over the proposed investment.

However, the planned factory did not materialise.

Government Seeks to Attract Investors

Ruto said his administration was working to create an environment where investors could establish businesses without facing unnecessary demands.

He said the government also wanted to ensure that communities benefited from major investments through employment and other economic opportunities.

The President cited what he described as demands for shares and bribes as some of the challenges that had previously discouraged investors from undertaking major projects in Kenya.

His administration, he said, was seeking to balance investor interests with the rights and economic interests of local communities.

The proposed Kitui cement factory comes as the government continues to promote manufacturing and value addition as part of its wider economic agenda.

Ruto Defends Lamu Refinery Project

During the same media engagement, Ruto also defended plans for a major oil refinery in Lamu County.

The President said the government would not evict residents to make way for the proposed project, arguing that the land earmarked for the refinery was government-owned.

He said any legitimate claims by residents would be addressed by the government rather than passed on to the investor.

The Lamu refinery is among several large-scale industrial and energy projects being pursued by the government as Kenya seeks to expand its petroleum infrastructure and attract private investment.

Ruto’s announcement of the new Kitui investor now puts the proposed Ksh33 billion cement factory back in the spotlight.

Further details about the investor, construction timeline, expected production capacity and the specific location of the plant were not provided during the media engagement.

The President’s planned November visit to Kitui is expected to provide more information about the project and mark the next stage in the development of the proposed cement factory.

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Ruto Reveals New Investor for Planned Ksh33 Billion Kitui Cement Factory