Kenyan steel manufacturers are experiencing slow growth due to high energy costs, cheap imports, and substandard products, leading to idle production capacity.

• The sector is operating at just 36 percent of its 4.2 million tonne capacity despite rising demand.
• Key players include the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), represented by CEO Tobias Alando and Metal and Allied Sector Chairman Bobby Johnson.
• Manufacturers are prepared to meet growing demand but need improvements in operating conditions, including the cost of electricity, access to financing, regulatory certainty, and competition from low-cost imports.