This archive report was first published on 22 September 2021.
Kenya's cement consumption has hit a record high, driven by massive state projects such as the JKIA-Westlands Expressway.
According to official data, cement consumption reached 4.1 million tonnes in the first seven months of 2021, a significant increase from the 3.25 million tonnes consumed during the same period last year.
The JKIA-Westlands Expressway, being built by China Road and Bridge Corporation, is one of the projects that have absorbed large quantities of cement, despite the economic challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Even during the height of the pandemic, cement consumption remained high, reaching 3.25 million tonnes in 2020, up from 2.9 million tonnes in the previous five years.
Building and construction was one of the sectors that showed significant growth during the pandemic, increasing by 11.8% in 2020, with the Economic Survey 2021 attributing this growth to continued investments in road infrastructure and expanded construction in the housing sub-sector.
The growth was further supported by the ongoing rehabilitation of the metre-gauge railway.
According to the Economic Survey 2021, cement consumption increased by 23.3% from 5.93 million tonnes in 2019 to 7.312.7 million tonnes in 2020.
Additionally, the importation of construction-related materials such as timber, bitumen, and cement increased by 69.6%, 15.2%, and 3.4%, respectively, during the same period.
