Devki Group has begun construction of a KSh50 billion cement manufacturing plant at Ngaaie in Mwingi North, Kitui County, marking one of the region’s largest recent private industrial investments.
The factory is expected to become Kitui County’s first cement manufacturing facility and is scheduled to begin operations around mid-2027. Located close to major limestone deposits, the project is intended to create direct and indirect employment, expand local business opportunities and bring cement production closer to markets in eastern and northern Kenya.
Key Overview
- Devki Group is constructing a KSh50 billion cement factory at Ngaaie in Mwingi North.
- The project is expected to begin operations around mid-2027.
- It is set to become Kitui County’s first cement manufacturing plant.
- The location was selected partly because of the area’s extensive limestone deposits, a key raw material in cement production.
- Devki expects the project to generate employment and opportunities for transporters, suppliers, traders and other businesses.
- The company has also announced support for classrooms, water access and a school feeding programme in the surrounding community.
KSh50 Billion Project Targets Mid-2027 Operations
Construction is under way on the KSh50 billion cement manufacturing project at Ngaaie in Mwingi North, with Devki Group targeting the middle of 2027 for the start of operations.
The project places a major industrial facility directly in an area with significant limestone resources. Limestone is one of the principal inputs used in producing clinker, which is then ground and blended to make cement.
Building the factory close to the raw-material source could reduce the distance over which limestone must be transported while placing additional cement production closer to consumers in parts of eastern and northern Kenya.
Industry reporting also confirms that the facility will expand Devki’s existing cement manufacturing footprint, which already includes National Cement operations producing Simba Cement.
Local Jobs and Businesses Expected to Benefit
Devki Executive Chairman Narendra Raval has positioned the investment as part of a wider push for industrialisation and job creation.
Construction activity is already generating employment and commercial activity around the project site, while a fully operational plant is expected to support additional work across manufacturing, transportation, logistics, maintenance, supply and retail.
The wider economic effect could extend beyond direct factory employment. Cement plants require regular movement of raw materials and finished products, creating demand for transporters and logistics providers. Local traders, food suppliers, accommodation providers and other businesses can also benefit from increased economic activity around a large industrial site.
Devki has argued that placing production closer to regional markets could also reduce transport-related costs associated with supplying cement over long distances.
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Kitui’s Limestone Resources Gain Industrial Value
Kitui County has long been associated with substantial mineral resources, including limestone deposits. The Ngaaie project represents a major attempt to convert those deposits into local industrial activity rather than transporting raw materials elsewhere for processing.
The development also fits into Kenya’s broader industrial strategy of expanding domestic production of construction materials. Devki has already invested heavily in local clinker manufacturing, with its National Cement and Cemtech businesses contributing significantly to national production capacity.
Kenya’s government has previously highlighted Devki’s expansion of domestic clinker production as part of efforts to increase self-sufficiency in construction materials and reduce reliance on imported inputs.
The Kitui factory could further strengthen that production base once it enters operation.
Community Support Forms Part of the Investment
Alongside the industrial project, Devki has announced several community initiatives around the Ngaaie site.
The company plans to support construction of modern classrooms and an administration block at a local school, while also improving access to reliable water supplies. A school feeding programme is expected to be introduced, with the possibility of extending support to neighbouring schools.
These commitments are intended to ensure that communities living close to the factory receive benefits beyond employment and commercial activity.
For Kitui, the KSh50 billion investment could therefore have effects across manufacturing, transport, education, local trade and infrastructure. Its longer-term impact will depend on how quickly construction is completed, the level of production reached after commissioning and how much of the resulting economic activity is retained within the county.
Sources: KBC Digital / CemNet / Office of the President / The County Diary
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