Kenyan industrialist Narendra Raval set October 27, 2026, for the official launch of a 50 billion-shilling ($385 million) clinker and cement facility in Kitui County, where President William Ruto is expected to lead the ceremony at Ngaaie.
President William Ruto to Lead Ngaaie Groundbreaking Ceremony
Kenyan steel and cement tycoon Narendra Raval announced via social media that the official launch for the National Cement Company Limited project will take place at 9:00 a.m on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The development anchors President William Ruto’s four-day tour of the Ukambani region, which spans Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties.
Raval framed the project as an important milestone in Kenya’s industrial development
in his announcement shared on X. The site sits on large limestone deposits in Mwingi North, making it Kitui’s first cement factory and the largest private investment in the county to date.
This milestone marks an important step in advancing Kenya’s industrial development and expanding local manufacturing capacity.
Narendra Raval, Devki Group executive chair, via People Daily
Ngaaie Plant Operations Expected to Start by 2027
Construction at the Ngaaie site began in September, with operations expected to commence by the middle of 2027. The plant follows earlier investments by Raval’s Devki Group, including the Cemtech clinker plant in West Pokot County that President Ruto opened in 2024.
Speaking at a media briefing in Mombasa, Ruto stated that Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote had previously sought to build a cement factory in Kitui years ago. Dangote chose to invest in Tanzania instead due to bureaucratic frustrations.
By producing clinker closer to domestic markets, Raval aims to lower local cement prices. The company projects that the facility will create hundreds of jobs once operational, building upon the local workers and suppliers already engaged during the construction phase.
Devki Group Uses Vertical Roller Mill to Address Pollution
Devki Group is committed to investing in the best technology that there is in the world when it comes to cement grinding plant, and that is the vertical roller mill technology that is environment friendly.
James Wainana, Devki Group officer, via People Daily
They are concerned about air pollution, health about the eye rashes and also skin, and also chronic exposure, and also the noise from the heavy machine. That’s the reason we are here to witness that whether it is exactly what they were telling us is the truth.
Ndegwa Mwangi, resident, via People Daily
The Kitui project moves forward under a finalized schedule, while company disclosures note that specific production capacity figures for the Ngaaie plant have not yet been released.