High costs in Foundry curtailing its potential in Kenya

Foundry specialist and the guest trainer from Metallurgical Research and Development Institute (CMRDI) in Egypt Prof. Adel Nofal makes his presentation during the event. [Courtesy]

Local foundry experts have attributed the sectors’ stagnated growth in Kenya to “extremely high costs of running the business” majorly due to over-reliance on imports, external expertise and non-existent government incentives despite its immense potential in generating millions of shillings and creating multiple jobs.

 “I recently bought a small foundry pyrometer which merely weighs a few grams at a cost of Ksh. 500, 000 but even then its calibration has to be done in Germany,” lamented Mr. Lawrence Nduto of East African Foundry Works.