New $20 million factory in Kisumu begins production of sanitary ware

Industrial activity in Kisumu County has received a significant lift with the establishment of a new $20 million sanitary ware factory by Keda Ceramics. The facility is the first of its kind in Kenya and stands as the largest sanitary ware production site in East Africa.

The investment aligns with the national government's focus on the affordable housing program. According to Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, Abubakar Hassan, the housing initiative is driving industrial demand and encouraging the local manufacturing of essential building materials, including cement and steel.

Located in the Miwani area, the factory has a reported production capacity of 4,000 wares per day. The project has already created approximately 600 jobs for the youth in Kisumu, contributing to the local labor market as the construction sector scales up.

Local production of these items is expected to reduce the reliance on imported bathroom fittings. By manufacturing sanitary products within the country, the project aims to lower the overall costs of materials required for large-scale residential developments under the President Ruto administration.

The emergence of new factories for building products signals a shift in the regional supply chain. Keda Ceramics, which already operates significant tile manufacturing plants in Kajiado, has expanded its footprint to tap into the growing demand within the East African Community.

The government continues to position these industrial investments as a key component of its economic strategy. PS Hassan noted that the affordable housing program serves a dual purpose of providing decent homes while stimulating the manufacturing sector through increased demand for Kenyan-made products.

This development follows a series of government efforts to attract foreign direct investment into the manufacturing and construction sectors. The Kisumu facility is part of a broader trend of industrializing the Lake Basin region to support national infrastructure goals.