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- Kenya Positions Itself as a Steel Powerhouse in Africa: Highlights from Consultative Meeting Chaired by CS Lee Kinyanjui
Kenya Positions Itself as a Steel Powerhouse in Africa: Highlights from Consultative Meeting Chaired by CS Lee Kinyanjui
Gerald Kombo
May 16, 2025
In a strong demonstration of the government’s renewed commitment to industrial transformation, the Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry, Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, convened a high-level consultative meeting today with key players in Kenya’s steel sub-sector. Held at the Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, the morning session brought together stakeholders from across the steel manufacturing value chain, including representatives from government agencies and top industry leaders.
The meeting was convened under the broader objective of refining Kenya’s industrial policy to drive investment, promote local content, create employment, and reduce import dependence—particularly in strategic subsectors such as steel and cement & clinker. The afternoon was scheduled for deliberations with cement and clinker manufacturers.
Steel Sector: Backbone of Affordable Housing and Industrial Ambitions
In his opening remarks, CS Kinyanjui acknowledged the sector’s potential to anchor Kenya’s industrial competitiveness—not just for the domestic market, but as a springboard into regional and continental markets. He reiterated the Ministry’s vision of positioning Kenya as a “powerhouse in the manufacture of good quality, well-priced steel” capable of serving the East African region and the broader Sub-Saharan Africa market.
“We wanted to hear what the manufacturers have to say,” the CS stated. “Our concern being that we would want increased and robust production of steel… Kenya can be a powerhouse.”
He noted that the meeting had examined both existing bottlenecks and the pathways toward resolving them. “We’ve looked at the existential bottlenecks and the potential to correct them… and some of the things we’ll be putting in place, including in this year’s budget, will go towards streamlining that position.”
Investment, Quality, and Strategic Capacity Use
The Principal Secretary for Industry, Juma Mukhwana, elaborated on some of the priority areas identified. Chief among them was the need to strengthen the "Buy Kenya, Build Kenya" initiative by maximizing local sourcing of steel products.
“We really want to make sure that as we buy our items, we minimize importation and maximize on buying what is made in Kenya,” he said. “This creates more employment and also creates value for our God-given resources.”
PS Mukhwana underscored the importance of quality assurance, particularly in light of Kenya’s affordable housing agenda. With vertical construction now reaching up to 50 storeys, the need for durable and standardized steel products was highlighted. He praised the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and manufacturers for aligning on stringent quality benchmarks to meet modern architectural demands.
“Without the steel from these companies, affordable housing cannot take place,” the PS said. “And the metals we are producing will give us the houses of the future.”
He named firms such as Devki Steel Mills, Mabati Rolling Mills, Blue Nile Rolling Mills, and Roofings as examples of Kenyan companies already expanding into regional markets. “This is really the original home of manufacturing. We want to produce steel for East Africa, for Africa, for the world—because we have the best in this team.”
Public–Private Partnership: A Joint Effort
Tobias Alando, the CEO of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), praised the consultative model employed in the meeting. He called for continued collaboration between government and the private sector to expand manufacturing’s role in economic growth.
“The growth of the manufacturing sector is a responsibility of both government and the private sector,” Alando said. “Our aim is to increase investment, create more employment… We’ve identified key issues that need to be addressed—how to scale existing capacity and attract new investment.”
He expressed optimism that the budget cycle and upcoming reforms would lay the groundwork for a manufacturing resurgence.
“Kenya is indeed a very good destination for investment,” he added. “There are challenges, yes, but they can be addressed. The transformation is coming.”
KAM: Create a Win-Win Economy
The Chair of the Trade and Tax Committee at the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Mr. Juma Bucha, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need to harness Kenya’s installed industrial capacities to create a “win-win” for all stakeholders.
“Challenges will always be there, but there are solutions,” Bucha stated. “A solution has more or less been found… we all need to use our capacities more, create jobs and foreign exchange for the country.”
He thanked the Ministry for convening the forum and committed to continued dialogue toward sustainable outcomes.
A First of Many Engagements
CS Kinyanjui concluded by noting that this was just the beginning of deeper engagements with manufacturers, signaling that a more structured and solution-oriented policy dialogue is in motion.
“This is the first of many meetings we’ll be having to correct some of the challenges… The Kenya steel sector is headed for greater and better times.”
Next Steps: Cement & Clinker Sector Engagement
As the steel session wrapped up, preparations were underway for the consultative meeting with manufacturers from the cement and clinker sub-sector, which faces similar challenges around raw material sourcing, price volatility, and regional competition.
The Ministry’s approach—bringing stakeholders into the room for frank dialogue—marks a shift toward more pragmatic industrial policymaking in line with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).