Tanzania’s Amsons Group in $380m investment talks with President Ruto

Dar es Salaam. Amsons Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Edha Nahdi, this week held talks with Kenya’s President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, as part of efforts to advance regional industrial investment following the company’s acquisition of Bamburi Cement Plc.

The discussions focused on the second phase of Bamburi’s expansion, a major industrial project estimated at $380 million.

The investment is expected to enhance local manufacturing, create employment opportunities, and support East Africa’s economic integration agenda.

The meeting comes after Amsons Group, through its Kenyan subsidiary Amsons Industries (K) Ltd, acquired Bamburi Cement—Kenya’s largest cement producer—following regulatory approval and a 96 percent shareholder endorsement.

The acquisition, valued at approximately $180 million (Sh475 billion), is among the most notable cross-border takeovers by a Tanzanian firm.

President Ruto welcomed the investment, expressing his administration’s readiness to support regional ventures that align with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He also emphasised the importance of strengthening economic cooperation between Kenya and Tanzania through private-sector engagement.

Mr Nahdi said Amsons Group remains committed to driving industrial growth across the region.

“With the support of the Tanzanian and Kenyan governments, our regional expansion plans are progressing well. We aim to be one of the leading cement manufacturers in both markets by 2030,” he said.

Amsons Group has outlined a broader $400 million investment strategy, which includes upgrading Bamburi’s grinding and clinkerisation facilities and building a new clinker plant in Matuga, Kwale County.

The aim is to enhance production efficiency and secure access to raw materials.

Analysts have described the expansion as a catalyst for Kenya’s cement and construction sectors and a sign of growing Tanzanian corporate presence in regional markets.

The Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) and the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) have commended the move as a milestone in Tanzania’s outward investment drive.