Amsons Group has tightened its grip on Kenya’s cement industry after securing a controlling stake in East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC), following the National Social Security Fund’s completion of the sale of its 27 per cent stake
Through its subsidiary, Kalahari Cement Ltd, the Tanzania-founded conglomerate now holds about 68.7 per cent of EAPCC following the purchase of NSSF’s 27 per cent shareholding.
The deal received approvals from the Capital Markets Authority, the Competition Authority of Kenya and the Ministry of Mining, clearing the way for a full management takeover.
The acquisition marks another major step in Amsons Group’s expansion plan in Kenya. In late 2024, the company took over Bamburi Cement and has since pushed the business into double-digit EBITDA growth through group-wide efficiency measures.
Amsons is also constructing a 5,000-tonne-per-day clinker plant in Matuga, Kwale County, a USD 300 million investment expected to create more than 1,000 direct jobs and add 1.6 million tonnes of clinker production annually.
Speaking on the new EAPCC deal, Managing Director Edha Munif said the group sees enormous potential in Kenya’s cement market and is prepared to make heavy investments to unlock growth.
“We see so much potential in the cement market in Kenya, and we are committed to growing it even more. We plan to make a significant investment in EAPCC with the aim we tripling production capacity in the next three years. We also plan on building another clinkerisation plant, which will lead to thousands of new jobs being created and increased revenue for Kenya as sales grow. This will also be very beneficial for other industries, including logistics and construction. I have always believed in local production as one of the best ways to grow and stabilise an economy, and now we have another opportunity to prove this through our acquisition of EAPCC.”
For EAPCC, the change in ownership could signal the end of a difficult era. The company has posted losses for 13 straight years and only managed to issue a dividend this year after selling land, not from operational performance.
The entry of Amsons is expected to inject fresh capital, modernise operations and reduce the country’s reliance on imported clinker.
Although Amsons now controls the majority of shares, the company has indicated that it is not seeking to delist EAPCC from the Nairobi Securities Exchange or force a mandatory buyout of remaining shareholders.
Instead, it plans to run EAPCC as a publicly traded company while carrying out the turnaround plan.
With control of both Bamburi and EAPCC, Amsons Group is positioning itself as a dominant force in Kenya’s cement market.
The company’s investments are expected to boost domestic capacity, support the construction and logistics sectors and strengthen Kenya’s broader industrial development.
If its plans succeed, EAPCC could stage one of the most notable corporate recoveries in the country’s manufacturing sector.
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