Another Billionaire Lands in Kenya to Start a Cement Factory in Kitui Days After Dangote’s Arrival

President William Ruto has announced that the government has secured a new investor for a proposed KSh33 billion cement factory in Kitui County, reviving plans for a major industrial project that has remained stalled for years.

Speaking during a media engagement in Mombasa on Thursday, October 1, 2026, Ruto said the investor had already been identified and that he planned to travel to Kitui in November to officially break ground for the project.

“The investor is already around, and I will be soon visiting Kitui, probably next month, to break ground for the factory, which will cost KSh33 billion,” Ruto said.

The President did not disclose the identity of the new investor.

Ruto linked the development to an earlier proposal by Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote to establish a cement plant in Kitui. He recalled that, while serving as deputy president, he accompanied Dangote to State House for a meeting with former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

According to Ruto, the earlier investment did not proceed after Dangote encountered conditions that included demands for shares. He said the businessman subsequently directed his investment to Tanzania instead.

Ruto said his administration was seeking to create a business environment that would attract major investors while ensuring Kenyans benefit through employment and other economic opportunities.

The announcement comes shortly after Dangote and Ruto participated in the groundbreaking of a separate $16 billion oil refinery project in Lamu County. That project has also faced legal challenges over land and transparency issues.

For Kitui, the proposed cement factory represents a renewed attempt to develop the county’s industrial potential, with construction now expected to begin if the planned November groundbreaking proceeds.

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