Construction of an HDPE pipe factory in Ruiru, Kiambu County started in February after the county and national government authorities gave the nod.

Megapipes Solutions Limited, the latest entrant into the Kenyan market is constructing a factory for manufacturing of large diameter plastic pipes, namely structured wall HDPE pipes (Weholite) for WASH Projects in Kenya and neighboring countries.

The construction of the company on a 5-acre plot in Ruiru, 25 kilometers from the capital Nairobi will take around 12 months to build according to the project consultants Mangat I.B. Patel (MIBP Ltd) and principal contractor Superfit Steelcon Ltd.

Simon Thomas, a director at Megapipes Solutions said they are looking forward to starting production in Kenya which he describes as a blue ocean of opportunities. “We are happy to announce that construction work has started at the site and we are looking forward to Weholite products that are made in Kenya, by Kenyans.”

Thomas further said that it will become a Centre of Excellence for the whole of East Africa and shall train local employees in plastic pipe extrusion, fabrication of Weholite products (tanks, manholes, packaged treatment solutions) and jointing techniques for the installation of pipes and manholes.

“We are going to create more than 100 direct and 1000 indirect jobs. The purpose of this project is to have local manufacturing of innovative, state-of-the-art products. This is an effort to meet the growing requirements of sanitation and drainage projects in Kenya, contributing to the local economy and industrialization process while avoiding importation of such products. Through our efforts we want to promote and support the government vision of “Buy Kenya, Build Kenya” because this investment will have a positive impact on the economy of the country,” he added.

Once set up, the factory will become the most sophisticated Weholite production facility globally and will raise the profile of Kenyan manufacturing to World Class status. Thomas suggests that it will be a business that the country should be proud of.

It is designed to have various phases starting with building a 4000m2 factory for the manufacturing of Weholite pipes from 800mm to 3000mm diameter.

“Megapipes will be the leader for sustainable stormwater, sanitation and water storage solutions, using innovative world class technology and unique services tailored to customer needs,” Thomas concluded.