Kenya Association of Manufacturers — organization representing the country's manufacturing sector, recently warning of productivity threats from fuel prices and logistics gaps.
… Speaking during the East African Steel Summit in Nairobi on Monday, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) Chief Executive Tobias Alando said the sector's low capacity utilisation is driven by the high cost of raw materials and production, declining exports of finished steel pr …
… Tobias Alando, chief executive officer of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, said the collaboration addresses some of the sector's biggest challenges."Through this mission, our manufacturers and farmers will experience fewer post-harvest losses by gaining access to the lates …
… Weighing into the matter, the Members led by the Chairperson Kuria Kimani expressed concerns that Kenya’s liniency had not been reciprocated. “Recently we had an engagement with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers on the Finance Bill and they noted that Kenya has been too lini …
… Having served as Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) for nine years, later joining the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, and now running her own advisory firm since December 2025, Wakiaga brings a unique perspective on business, policy an …
… Whenever we had such challenges, we engaged other private sector organisations, the Kenya Private Alliance, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and the like," noted Matiang'i.He accused the current government of shielding incompetent leaders behind political excuses, and calle …
Four killed, 348 arrested in nationwide fuel-cost protests
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·Capital News
… The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) warned Monday that the transport disruptions were already affecting productivity, supply chains, and business operations nationwide. …
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 19 — The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has warned that surging fuel prices and ongoing public transport disruptions are threatening industrial productivity and pushing the economy toward deeper instability. …
… KCB Group CEO Paul Russo highlighted the institution’s cross-border success in Kenya and Tanzania, while Kenya Association of Manufacturers (Kenya Association of Manufacturers) CEO Tobias Alando spoke on strengthening agricultural value chains under the theme “From Farm to Market …
… Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) Chief Executive Tobias Alando said geopolitical tensions and changing global trade dynamics were already placing pressure on manufacturers and disrupting established supply routes."Global dynamics continue to affect the manufacturing secto …
Kenya's steel industry operates at 36 per cent of its installed production capacity of 4.2 million tonnes, with manufacturers citing high production costs, cheap imports, regulatory uncertainty and substandard products as major constraints. Kenya Association of Manufacturers CEO Tobias Alando called for sector reforms at the East African Steel Summit, noting that in 2025 Kenya imported about 1.66 million tonnes of iron and steel products while exporting approximately 197,000 tonnes.
Why it matters
Kenya's steel industry operating at only 36% capacity amid import surge reveals structural economic vulnerability and manufacturing sector distress.
Kenya's steel industry operates at 36 per cent of its installed production capacity of 4.2 million tonnes, with manufacturers citing high production costs, cheap imports, regulatory uncertainty and substandard products as major constraints. Kenya Association of Manufacturers CEO Tobias Alando called for sector reforms at the East African Steel Summit, noting that in 2025 Kenya imported about 1.66 million tonnes of iron and steel products while exporting approximately 197,000 tonnes.
Thirteen Italian agritech and food processing companies are in Kenya to explore partnerships aimed at modernising the agri-food value chain and cutting post-harvest losses. Between 30 and 50 per cent of agricultural produce in Africa is lost during post-harvest handling, storage, processing and packaging, according to the Italian Trade Agency.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe launched the Kenya AgriConnect Compact (2025–2030), a Ksh.1.47 trillion partnership with the World Bank to modernise agriculture through technology, digitisation, and agritech platforms, with the government committing Ksh.492.5 billion and seeking Ksh.984.9 billion in private investment.
East African Community Affairs Principal Secretary Caroline Karugu has urged the National Assembly to amend national tax laws to align with community frameworks, warning that provisions in the proposed Finance Bill, 2026 risk breaching regional treaties and triggering trade retaliation. The core issue is how goods moving within the EAC bloc are classified for tax purposes—Kenya's current law labels EAC goods as imports subject to higher excise duties, contradicting the EAC Customs Management Act, which classifies inter-state movement as a transfer.
Former Kenya Association of Manufacturers CEO Phyllis Wakiaga warns aspiring entrepreneurs to approach business with realism, assessing scalability and sustainability. While Kenya's manufacturing sector has diversified and adopted more technology, gaps remain in infrastructure costs, energy access, and support for local industries.
Jubilee Party leaders, including Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang'i, have criticized the Kenya Kwanza government's handling of a two-day fuel strike, accusing President William Ruto's administration of poor leadership and saying the country is on a dangerous path. Matiang'i contrasted his record of engaging stakeholders with the current government's approach, and called on Kenya Kwanza to stop using former president Kenyatta as an explanation for the country's problems.
A nationwide public transport shutdown triggered by soaring fuel prices continued into a second day, forcing thousands of commuters to walk long distances across Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Mombasa after matatu operators kept vehicles off the roads. Talks between the government and public service vehicle operators ended without agreement despite the Energy Cabinet Secretary suggesting progress had been made.
The Kenya Association of Manufacturers has warned that surging fuel prices and an ongoing matatu strike are disrupting supply chains and raising production costs, threatening industrial productivity and economic stability. Fuel prices reached record highs of Sh214.25 for super petrol, Sh242.92 for diesel, and Sh152.78 for kerosene following an EPRA adjustment on May 14.
Private sector leaders from Kenya and Tanzania have jointly called on both governments to accelerate regional economic integration and remove trade barriers, emphasizing the need for a seamless East African market with harmonized regulations and improved cross-border efficiency.
Kenyan manufacturers warn that logistics inefficiencies and global trade disruptions are undermining the country's competitiveness as it seeks to expand exports and industrial production, with Kenya targeting manufacturing's contribution to GDP to rise from 7.3 per cent in 2025 to 20 per cent by 2030.