Kenya lands $254.4M cement factory investor, Dangote’s earlier Kitui bid failed
Kenya has secured a new investor to build a $254.4 million cement factory in Kitui County, with construction expected to begin after a groundbreaking in November 2026. President William Ruto announced the deal following his media engagement in Mombasa on Thursday, October 1, 2026, saying the yet‑to‑be‑named investor will visit Kitui next month to officially break ground. He noted that this comes seven years after Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote first tried to set up a cement plant in Kitui but withdrew due to frustrations with demands from the previous administration, eventually investing in Tanzania instead.
For Nigerians, the story highlights the competitive landscape for cement investments across Africa and shows that Dangote remains active in the region—while his Kitui plan stalled, he is expanding his existing operations in Nigeria. On August 4, 2026, Dangote Industries signed a Memorandum of Understanding worth over $800 million with Sinoma International Engineering to double the capacity of his Itori, Ogun State cement plant from six million to 12 million metric tonnes per year and upgrade its Lagos export terminal.
The Kitui project’s groundbreaking is set for November 2026, with construction to start shortly after. Nigerian investors and businesses should watch how this new Kenyan plant might affect regional cement supply and pricing, and consider whether opportunities exist for partnerships, supply chain involvement, or learning from Dangote’s continued expansion in Nigeria and Tanzania.