President William Ruto has officially launched the construction of a KSh70 billion cement and clinker manufacturing plant by Devki Group in Ngaaie, Mwingi North, Kitui County, in a major industrial investment expected to transform the region’s economy and create thousands of employment opportunities.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Tuesday, October 27, marks a significant milestone for Kitui County, which is set to become an important centre for cement manufacturing in Kenya.
The project, spearheaded by Devki Group through its subsidiary National Cement Company Limited, will utilise the region’s extensive limestone deposits to manufacture clinker, a key raw material used in cement production.
Once completed, the facility will become Kitui County’s first cement manufacturing plant, positioning the region as a growing destination for industrial investment.
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Devki’s KSh70 Billion Investment to Transform Kitui
Devki Group Executive Chairman Dr Narendra Raval said the company had invested KSh70 billion in the project, which had been in the planning stages for approximately 10 years.
Raval noted that the availability of limestone deposits in Ngaaie was a major consideration in selecting the location for the manufacturing facility.
He said the investment was designed to unlock the economic potential of the region while addressing unemployment through industrial development.
According to Raval, the project is already employing approximately 4,000 Kenyans during the construction phase, providing immediate economic opportunities for residents and workers.
The investment is also expected to stimulate demand for local businesses, including transport operators, suppliers, contractors and other service providers.
Thousands of Jobs Expected as Construction Progresses
The Devki cement plant is expected to generate significant employment opportunities for residents of Kitui and neighbouring counties.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Raval highlighted the importance of industrialisation in addressing unemployment, particularly among young people graduating from universities and technical institutions.
Upon completion, the facility is expected to provide more than 3,000 permanent jobs, in addition to the employment opportunities created during construction.
The project is also expected to support indirect employment across transportation, logistics, mining, equipment maintenance and other sectors linked to cement manufacturing.
President Ruto urged Devki Group to collaborate with technical and vocational education and training institutions to provide practical skills development and apprenticeship opportunities for young Kenyans.
He also called on the company to ensure that local businesses benefit from supplying goods and services to the new factory.
New Plant to Boost Kenya’s Cement and Clinker Production
The establishment of the Ngaaie facility is expected to strengthen Kenya’s domestic cement manufacturing capacity and reduce reliance on imported clinker.
Clinker is produced by heating limestone and other raw materials at high temperatures before grinding it with other materials to manufacture cement.
According to industry reports, the new facility is designed to produce approximately three million tonnes of clinker annually, significantly expanding Devki Group’s manufacturing capacity.
Increasing local clinker production will help strengthen the country’s supply chain, reduce exposure to international supply disruptions and retain more value within the Kenyan economy.
The investment also comes at a time when Kenya’s construction industry continues to experience demand from infrastructure development, affordable housing projects, commercial buildings and private construction activities.
Ruto: Devki Plant Will Strengthen Kenya’s Industrialisation Agenda
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, President Ruto said the investment would help Kenya maximise the economic value of its natural resources while creating employment and expanding local manufacturing.
He emphasised that producing clinker locally would reduce the country’s dependence on imports and strengthen its industrial capacity.
The President also reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting investors and creating an enabling environment for businesses to establish and expand manufacturing operations.
Ruto noted that industrial investments such as the Devki plant were important in supporting economic growth, creating skilled employment and expanding opportunities for young people.
He further encouraged the private sector to work closely with the government in advancing Kenya’s manufacturing and industrialisation agenda.
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Kitui Emerges as a New Industrial Investment Destination
The Devki investment is expected to significantly change the economic outlook of Kitui County, particularly the Mwingi North region.
For years, the area has been recognised for its limestone deposits, which provide an important resource for cement manufacturing.
The establishment of the factory is expected to stimulate additional investment in infrastructure, housing, transport and supporting industries.
Local traders and entrepreneurs are also expected to benefit from increased economic activity as workers, contractors and suppliers establish businesses around the project.
The plant could further position Kitui as an important industrial hub in Eastern Kenya, attracting additional investors interested in exploiting locally available raw materials.
Devki Cement Plant Expected to Begin Operations in 2027
Construction of the new cement and clinker manufacturing facility is already underway, with operations expected to commence around mid-2027.
Once operational, the factory will strengthen Devki Group’s position in Kenya’s cement industry while contributing to the country’s ambition of expanding local manufacturing.
The KSh70 billion investment represents one of the significant private-sector industrial projects in Kitui County and is expected to deliver long-term economic benefits through employment, local sourcing and increased industrial production.
For residents of Ngaaie and the wider Kitui region, the project represents an opportunity to translate the area’s natural mineral resources into jobs, businesses and sustainable economic development.
