Linglong “plans” Kenya tyre factory

Linglong “plans” Kenya tyre factory Kenyan president William Samoei Ruto PhD announced that leading Chinese tyremaker Linglong “plans to set up factory in Kenya to serve the African market” in a statement published online on 17 January 2025. President Ruto’s remarks follow talks with Linglong executives at State House, Nairobi, where Linglong Tyres chairman Wang Feng reported shared plans relating to the tyre factory. “Kenya continues to position itself as a premier destination for foreign investment, offering a range of attractive incentives designed to encourage investor confidence”, Ruto commented, welcoming such bids and offering support, adding: “The government remains committed to enhancing these incentives to ensure a competitive and investor-friendly environment.” 

Lee Kinyanjui, the Kenya Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, was also in attendance at the event. Indeed, Kinyanjui prioritised the meeting with Linglong immediately after taking office: “After my swearing-in today, I attended a meeting with Linglong Tyres, a company looking to establish operations in Kenya to serve the African market.” Kinyanjui’s remarks provide the only indication so far of the scale of the proposed Linglong Kenya tyre manufacturing facility: “The factory has the potential to create hundreds of jobs for the youth.” Like the Kenyan, Kinyanjui rolled out the red carpet to Linglong, but also sought to secure local supply: “To maximize these opportunities, we will advocate for the enforcement of local content policies, which require companies to prioritize the use of local labour, materials, and services in their operations.”

 Meanwhile, Linglong Tyres chairman Wang Feng also met with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) which also encouraged investors such as Linglong to take advantage of the great potential within the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Specifically, KPA managing director Captain William Ruto held talks with Linglong Tire a company which has reportedly shown “a strong interest in the SEZ”. Captain Ruto stated that the strategic location of Dongo Kundu, nearest to the Port of Mombasa, makes it “a perfect gateway for both regional and international markets”. For his part, Wang Feng is quoted as saying Linglong is in Kenya “to explore opportunities for closer collaboration in investment areas that could boost economic growth.” In other words, the investment plans do not appeared to have been absolutely confirmed, but time spent with the Kenyan President, Kenya Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Investments and head of the ports authority suggests the plans are at a significant stage of development. Kenyan Port Authority managing director Captain William Ruto and Linglong Tyres chairman Wang Feng (Photo: Kenyan Ports Authority)