By The Weekly Vision Business Desk
Kenya has reached a major milestone in its industrial development following the commissioning of Devki Group’s Cemtech Sebit Clinkerisation Plant in West Pokot County, a project that is expected to eliminate the country’s long-standing dependence on imported clinker and position Kenya as a regional export hub.
The KSh45 billion facility, located in Sebit, West Pokot County, is operated by National Cement Company Limited, the manufacturer of Simba Cement and a subsidiary of the Devki Group. The plant represents one of the largest private industrial investments in Kenya’s manufacturing sector and is expected to strengthen the country’s cement value chain.
The clinkerisation plant has a production capacity of approximately 6,000 metric tonnes per day. At full production, Devki says its clinker manufacturing operations will contribute around six million metric tonnes annually, enabling the company to meet domestic demand while creating capacity for exports to neighbouring countries.
The project is built on extensive local limestone deposits estimated to sustain production for more than 50 years, ensuring a reliable supply of raw materials for decades to come. It is also expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs while supporting growth in the construction and manufacturing sectors.
For many years, Kenya has relied heavily on imported clinker, the key raw material used in cement production, with annual demand averaging about five million metric tonnes. Local production had consistently fallen short of demand, forcing manufacturers to import significant quantities from countries including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
The commissioning of the West Pokot plant significantly alters that equation. Devki’s expanded clinker production capacity now exceeds Kenya’s current annual requirements, creating a surplus that can be exported to regional markets.
Industry figures also indicate that Kenya’s total installed clinker production capacity has risen to approximately 10 million metric tonnes annually across all manufacturers. At the same time, clinker imports declined sharply in 2024, reinforcing the country’s transition towards self-sufficiency.
The development comes as domestic cement consumption continues to grow, driven by large-scale infrastructure projects, affordable housing programmes and rapid urbanisation. Industry analysts project annual growth in cement demand of between seven and eight per cent over the coming years.
Beyond meeting domestic needs, the additional clinker capacity is expected to reduce pressure on Kenya’s foreign exchange reserves by replacing imports while creating new export revenue. Regional markets such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and parts of South Sudan are viewed as potential destinations for Kenyan-produced clinker, with earlier industry projections estimating that exports from the West Pokot operation could generate up to US$200 million annually.
The shift from an import-dependent market to a potential net exporter is expected to improve Kenya’s balance of payments while strengthening East Africa’s construction materials supply chain.
Founded by industrialist Narendra Raval, the Devki Group has grown from a small hardware business established in Kenya in 1978 into one of East Africa’s largest manufacturers of steel, cement and construction materials. The commissioning of the Sebit Clinkerisation Plant marks another significant milestone in the company’s expansion strategy and in Kenya’s broader industrialisation agenda.
The investment underscores the role of large-scale private sector manufacturing in enhancing economic resilience, creating employment, supporting value addition and reducing reliance on imports, while positioning Kenya as a key supplier of construction materials within the East African region.
