NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto on Tuesday presided over the signing of a major industrial contract for the development of a new Bamburi Cement clinker line in Matuga, Kwale County, positioning the investment as a cornerstone of the government’s ambitious Sh5 trillion plan to transform Kenya into a first-world economy.
Speaking during the contract signing between Bamburi Cement PLC and China-based SINOMA–CBMI Construction Co. Ltd, President Ruto said the project marked a strategic boost to Kenya’s manufacturing base and cement value chain, which underpins key sectors such as housing, transport, energy, and large-scale infrastructure.
The Head of State said strengthening domestic clinker production was critical to reducing reliance on imports and safeguarding the long-term competitiveness of Kenya’s cement industry, noting that the sector remains central to national development.
“This partnership reflects Kenya’s growing integration into global industrial value chains and aligns closely with our industrialisation agenda,” Ruto said, adding that the project combines Bamburi’s local market experience with SINOMA–CBMI’s global technical expertise to enhance capacity and resilience in the sector.
Ruto framed the Matuga project within the broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Kenya Vision 2030, saying targeted industrial investments were essential for sustained, inclusive, and resilient growth.
He reiterated that the clinker line forms part of a wider Sh5 trillion National Economic Independence Project, which the government has pitched as a pathway to economic freedom and first-world status.
The plan prioritises large-scale infrastructure, affordable and reliable energy, and expanded irrigation to unlock productivity across agriculture, manufacturing, housing, and services.
Under the programme, the government plans to dual 2,500 kilometres of highways, tarmac 28,000 kilometres of roads, extend the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and onward to the Uganda border, modernise ports and airports, and add at least 10,000 megawatts of power generation capacity.
It also includes the construction of 50 mega dams, 200 medium and small dams, and thousands of micro-dams to expand irrigation.
“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,” Ruto said.
At the same time, the President acknowledged the cement industry’s heavy energy demands and carbon footprint, saying the government would encourage cleaner and more efficient production technologies.
He said the Matuga investment presented an opportunity to embed low-carbon technologies, improve energy efficiency, and adopt cleaner fuels, in line with Kenya’s climate commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0).
“Decarbonisation is not a constraint; it is an opportunity to innovate, reduce costs and attract green investment,” he said, adding that industrial growth and environmental sustainability must advance together.
Ruto also linked the project to the Affordable Housing Programme, which he said currently has more than 240,000 units under construction nationwide. According to the President, the programme supports over 480,000 jobs across construction, manufacturing, transport, and allied sectors, while stimulating demand for locally produced building materials such as cement and steel.
The Matuga clinker line is expected to create direct and indirect jobs, support skills development and technology transfer, and stimulate local enterprises in logistics, quarrying, and services in Kwale County and the wider South Coast region.
Ruto said the government remained committed to supporting investments that deepen value addition, create jobs, and strengthen Kenya’s manufacturing base, as part of its push for balanced regional industrialisation.
“I commend Bamburi Cement, SINOMA–CBMI, and all partners involved, and I look forward to the successful implementation of this project and its positive impact on Matuga, Kwale County, and the country at large,” he said
