Ruto declares Kenya will stop exporting raw materials

President William Ruto has announced Kenya will cease exporting raw materials to be processed abroad. In a speech on September 5, 2026, in Magadi, Kajiado County, Ruto outlined plans to prioritize local value addition, aiming to generate employment and retain wealth within the nation. The president criticized the current extractive model, where Kenya earns a minimal share of the wealth generated from its natural resources, while foreign entities reap the majority of benefits.

He pledged that all raw materials, including those from Magadi, would undergo value addition in Kenya for domestic and international markets. Specifically, Magadi's resources would support the establishment of glass factories and chemical industries, creating job opportunities for young Kenyans and utilizing local talent. Ruto emphasized that this shift is part of a broader strategy to ensure African countries benefit more from their natural resources, citing the economic logic of creating value within the continent rather than exporting unprocessed materials.

The government will collaborate with investors and development partners to facilitate this transformation, maintaining that they are open to investment but insist on participation in value addition and industrialization. Ruto reiterated Kenya's commitment to leveraging its natural resources for domestic industry development, employment generation, and increased wealth generation from its commodities.