NAIROBI, Kenya – Chinese construction equipment manufacturer LiuGong Machinery has established an assembly base in Kenya, positioning itself as a key player in East Africa’s growing infrastructure sector.
The facility, located in Syokimau, Machakos County, will serve as the regional headquarters for LiuGong Machinery East Africa Limited, a subsidiary of the China-based LiuGong Group.
The move underscores the company’s ambitions to expand its footprint in Africa, where demand for heavy-duty machinery is rising due to large-scale infrastructure projects.
LiuGong ranks as the world’s 10th-largest construction equipment manufacturer by market share and is recognized as the leading global producer of wheel loaders.
The company’s product portfolio includes excavators, dozers, graders, forklifts, cranes, and road rollers—essential machinery for major construction projects.
East Africa’s infrastructure sector has been witnessing rapid expansion, driven by urbanization and government-led mega projects.
The region’s eight-member East African Community (EAC) boasts a combined GDP of $295 billion and a fast-growing population of 350 million.
Kenya, for instance, has ambitious plans, including the Sh325 billion High Grand Falls dam, set to be one of Africa’s largest hydropower projects.
Additionally, 32 smaller dams are in the pipeline to enhance irrigation. Neighboring countries, such as Tanzania and Uganda, are also investing heavily in roads, ports, and energy infrastructure.
LiuGong Group CEO Guangan Zeng said the company’s entry into the region was a strategic move to offer cutting-edge technology while ensuring long-term sustainability through skills transfer.
“We are not just here for business. We want to support local talent development by working with Kenyan institutions to train the next generation of engineers,” Zeng said during the launch event.
The company plans to collaborate with a Kenyan university to introduce advanced mechanical engineering techniques.
Already, South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) has expressed interest in partnering with LiuGong to expose its engineering students to modern construction technology.
Vice-Chancellor Douglas Shitanda welcomed the initiative, saying it would provide students with hands-on experience and prepare them for the job market.
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi hailed LiuGong’s investment as a boost to the county’s status as an emerging business hub.
“The fact that a global company like LiuGong has chosen Machakos is a vote of confidence in our county’s potential as a leading investment destination,” he said.
Beyond business, LiuGong has also pledged to address water scarcity in Kenya by drilling boreholes as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
With infrastructure development at the core of East Africa’s economic agenda, LiuGong’s entry into the market signals increased competition in the region’s construction equipment sector, where Chinese firms have been steadily gaining ground.
