Remarks · 16 December 2025
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It’s a pleasure to join you this morning as we witness the signing of a contract for the development of Bamburi Cement’s new clinker line in Matuga, Kwale County, in partnership with SINOMA–CBMI Construction Co. Ltd.
This partnership reflects Kenya’s growing integration into global industrial value chains and aligns closely with our national Industrialisation agenda.
The signing of this contract marks the commencement of a strategic industrial investment in Kenya’s cement sector, which remains a critical pillar of our economic growth and infrastructure development, underpinning our housing, transport, energy, and industrial investments.
As Government, we recognise that strengthening clinker production capacity is fundamental to securing the cement value chain and safeguarding the long-term competitiveness of the sector.
By combining Bamburi Cement’s deep local market presence and operational experience with SINOMA–CBMI’s global technical expertise in cement engineering and construction, this partnership will significantly strengthen domestic clinker production capacity, reduce reliance on imports, and enhance the competitiveness and resilience of Kenya’s cement industry.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this investment is fully aligned with Kenya Vision 2030, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)- particularly job creation, value addition, and regional industrial development and our broader manufacturing transformation agenda under the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry.
Industrialisation remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s economic transformation, and targeted investments such as this clinker line are essential to achieving sustained, inclusive, and resilient growth.
In this context, allow me to situate today’s project within our broader KSh 5 trillion bold national ambition to take Kenya to a first-world economy, which we have unveiled as a deliberate pathway to achieving Kenya’s economic freedom.
This national project is anchored on strategic infrastructure development, expanded, reliable, and affordable energy, and large-scale irrigation through extensive dam construction, designed to unlock productivity across agriculture, manufacturing, housing, transport, and services.
Through sustained investments in roads by dualing 2,500 km of critical highways and tarmacking 28,000 km of roads; in rail, including the extension of the SGR from Naivasha to Kisumu and onward to the Uganda border; in the modernisation of airports, ports, and industrial parks; in the expansion of energy generation by an additional 10,000 MW; and in modern irrigation through the construction of 50 mega dams, 200 medium and small dams, and thousands of micro-dams; we are laying the foundation for a competitive, self-reliant economy; one that is capable of supporting high-value industries, attracting global capital, and creating millions of decent jobs.
These investments have a clear objective: to position Kenya firmly on the trajectory to first-world economic status, driven by productivity, innovation, and industrial depth.
Distinguished Guests, the cement industry sits at the heart of this economic freedom agenda. Every kilometre of road, every power plant, every dam and irrigation canal, and every factory depends on a reliable, competitive, and sustainable cement value chain.
Projects such as the Bamburi clinker line are therefore not isolated investments; they are foundational catalysts of our national transformation.
While the cement sector is central to development, we are equally conscious that it is among the most energy-intensive industries with significant greenhouse gas emissions.
The Government therefore views today’s investment not only through the lens of capacity expansion, but also as an opportunity to embed cleaner, more efficient, and low-carbon production technologies.
We are encouraging improved energy efficiency in clinker production, adoption of cleaner fuels and modern technologies, and strict adherence to environmental, health, and safety standards across operations.
Through the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry and its agencies, we will continue to promote policy coherence, interagency coordination, and partnerships that support both competitiveness and environmental responsibility in the industrial sector.
Decarbonisation is not a constraint; it is an opportunity to innovate, reduce costs, attract green investment, and position Kenya as a regional leader in sustainable manufacturing.
These efforts support Kenya’s commitments under our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0) and demonstrate that industrial growth and sustainability can, and must, progress together.
Distinguished Guests, allow me also to highlight another flagship programme that is directly linked to today’s investment: the Affordable Housing Programme, which remains one of the most ambitious social and economic interventions in our history.
Currently, over 240,000 affordable housing units are under construction across the country, from urban centres to emerging towns, transforming skylines and livelihoods alike.
This programme not only provides decent and affordable homes for Kenyan families, but it is also a powerful engine for job creation, supporting more than 480,000 jobs across construction, manufacturing, transport, and allied services.
The demand for cement, steel, fittings, and other building materials generated by this programme is revitalising local industries, strengthening domestic supply chains, and keeping value and jobs within our economy.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the project we are unveiling today holds particular significance for Matuga and the wider Kwale County region. It is expected to create direct and indirect employment opportunities, support skills development and technology transfer, stimulate local enterprises across logistics, quarrying, maintenance, and services, and contribute meaningfully to community development and local economic growth.
Balanced regional Industrialisation remains a priority for the government, and we commend the investor for anchoring this expansion in the South Coast.
The Government of Kenya remains fully committed to supporting this project and similar investments that deepen value addition, create jobs, and strengthen our manufacturing base.
I commend Bamburi Cement PLC, SINOMA–CBMI Construction Co. Ltd, and all partners involved, and I look forward to the successful implementation of this clinker line and its positive impact in Matuga, Kwale County, and the Republic of Kenya at large. I thank you. ###