Ruto Breaks Ground on KSh 70 Billion Devki Cement Plant in KituiRuto Breaks Ground on KSh70 Billion Devki CementPlant in Kitui

The project, the first cement manufacturing facility in the county, is designed to turn local limestone deposits into clinker, the main raw material for cement, and to create jobs in the lower eastern region.

Devki Group executive chairman Narendra Raval told the ceremony that the company is currently employing 4,000 Kenyans on the construction site.

He added that the group has invested KSh 220 billion across 11 factories over the past eight years and plans further large investments before the end of 2027.

Location and raw materials

Raval said the company chose Ngaaie because the limestone is on site. "Because of the pressure from the leaders we were to put this plant in Mwingi and not Ngaaie. Materials are here yet they wanted me to put it 15km away," he said, according to remarks reported by Citizen TV.

The plant is expected to begin operations in mid-2027. It follows Devki's existing clinker facility at Sebit in West Pokot, which has a capacity of 6,000 tonnes a day and was commissioned by the President in 2024.

Government support and industrial policy

Ruto said producing clinker locally would keep more value in Kenya, create skilled jobs and reduce reliance on imports. He noted that the government introduced the Export and Investment Promotion Levy on imported clinker in 2023 to encourage domestic production.

He also warned individuals seeking to undermine large investments, saying his administration would not allow them to frustrate projects. "We are fortunate to have a resilient local investor in Devki Group's Guru Narendra Raval, who stood firm against these extortionists to make this project a reality," the President said.

What it means for Kitui and the cement market

The investment is the largest private project in Kitui County. Once operational, it is expected to support local businesses that supply goods and services to the plant and to add to Kenya's domestic cement and clinker capacity.

Devki operates brands including Simba Cement and National Cement and has plants in several East African countries. The Kitui facility extends its strategy of building integrated clinker capacity rather than relying only on imports. Earlier Mwenendo coverage of African industrial fortunes includes the ranking that placed Raval among Kenya's wealthiest.

Construction is already under way. The company expects the plant to employ additional workers once production starts, adding to the 4,000 currently on site.