Kenya: new plants on recruitment drives

Cemtech, the Indian cement firm majority-owned by the Sanghi Group, has began recruiting staff in a signal that the company is about to give the long-delayed project a new push.

The company has advertised for senior staff, including general manager for finance, to steer construction of the Pokot-based factory. Prime Minister Raila Odinga presided over the ground-breaking ceremony for the project in 2010.

It is expected to add a production capacity of 1.2Mt to the fast-growing Kenya cement sector, bringing the total industry capacity to about 6.7Mt.

Cemtech project director Rajeshkumar Rawal last month said construction of the factory would start in the same month with commissioning of the plant set for December 2013.

Other staff positions advertised in the media on Friday include commercial and procurement managers. Cemtech’s recruitment drive will escalate demand for manpower in the industry, with some cement firms reported to be scouting for employees from as far as Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, Athi River EPZ-based Savannah Cement is set to start tests next month and commercial production in March. It is also recruiting staff. The troubled East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) is seen as a soft target for the new firms.

So far, Savannah Cement has recruited heads of departments including finance, technical, and human resource who have been helping in hiring other staff.

The Cemtech plant is expected to serve Uganda and South Sudan besides the local market.

It comes at a time of massive investment in East Africa’s cement market. Savannah is also expected to target local and regional markets.