President William Ruto has assured local and foreign investors of government protection against extortion and interference as he launched a Sh70 billion cement and clinker factory in Ngaaie, Mwingi North, Kitui County.
Speaking on Tuesday during the launch of the Devki Group project, Ruto said the government was committed to creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and generate employment.
“I want to assure all our investors, foreign and local, that the government of Kenya will provide an environment conducive to their investment… We will protect investors from extortionists,” he said.
The President warned individuals seeking to undermine investments, saying his administration would not allow them to frustrate projects intended to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.
“I am here. I am going to deal with those people squarely. They have undermined our country for far too long,” said Ruto.
“Who told them that it is only them who can own things in our country?”
The factory, being developed using locally sourced raw materials, will manufacture clinker, a key ingredient in cement production. The project is expected to be completed by August 2027.
Ruto said the government’s role was to facilitate investment rather than restrict opportunities to particular individuals or groups.
“We must always look at how we create opportunities in Kenya. It doesn’t matter who creates those opportunities. We must support everyone and every investor who wants to invest in Kenya… We must give them support,” he said.
The President praised Devki Group chairman Narendra Raval, popularly known as Guru, for committing substantial resources to the project despite criticism surrounding the investment.
“When we were doing this, the naysayers were telling us that so-and-so has shares in Guru's factory. We must always focus on the bigger picture and support every investor who wants to put their money in Kenya,” Ruto said.
He said the country should prioritise investments that expand employment and industrial production rather than allow political disagreements to undermine economic development.
Raval said the company had invested Sh70 billion in the Kitui project and was already employing thousands of Kenyans.
“We have invested Sh70 billion in the Kitui project and are currently employing 4,000 Kenyans,” he said.
The factory is expected to employ about 3,000 people upon completion, adding to the workers already engaged in the project.
Raval said the company had faced pressure from leaders over the location of the investment, despite the availability of raw materials at the selected site.
“Devki Group does not work with any wrong motive. 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.
Raval added that the company had started planning the factory about a decade ago, describing the project as a long-term investment in Kenya’s industrial sector.
Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho was among those who attended the launch.
