Kenya used 10.28 million tonnes of cement in 2025 as construction recovered

The rebound showed up in materials

Cement consumption went from 8.54 million tonnes in 2024 to 10.28 million in 2025, above every year in the table. KNBS reported real construction growth of 6.8% in 2025 after a 0.7% contraction the year before. It cited more road and residential construction activity. Source 1

Input prices kept rising at a slower pace

The annual average rate of construction input inflation fell from 2.83% to 0.53%. That change describes the pace of price increases. It takes separate price-index levels to measure how much higher average input prices were than at the start of the five-year period. Source 1

The value of Nairobi plans fell

Private building plans approved by the county were valued at KSh 201.3 billion in 2025, down from KSh 221.6 billion. The approval figures cover Nairobi, while the cement series covers the country. A plan approval records a proposed building and leaves open when construction begins or finishes. Source 1

Lending and employment grew on different scales

Commercial bank loans and advances increased by KSh 70.2 billion in the series. Private construction employment rose by about 4,800 people, while reported public employment rose by about 200. The stock of loans includes real estate. Project-level borrowing and job figures would be needed to link the changes. Source 1

Road length measures the stock of paved roads

The total length of classified paved roads rose from 24,900 km in 2024 to 25,400 km in 2025 in the rounded table. KNBS separately reports about 2,164 km of road works completed in 2025. The works measure includes activity on existing roads, so its level can be much larger than the net change in paved network length. Source 1

Sources

• Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Economic Survey 2026, table 11.1 and chapter 2