LafargeHolcim East Africa Limited has entered members’ voluntary liquidation, formally ending the Swiss cement giant’s presence in Kenya after nearly six decades of operations.

The liquidation marks the final step in LafargeHolcim’s strategic withdrawal from East Africa.

The company had played a central role in Kenya’s cement sector since taking control of Bamburi in the mid-20th century, contributing to infrastructure and housing development across the region. LafargeHolcim’s exit aligns with its global strategy to focus on markets offering higher returns and divest from non-core regions.

This is part of a broader pattern of divestments across Africa. In December 2024, Holcim also agreed to sell its 83.81% stake in Nigeria’s Lafarge Africa PLC to Huaxin Cement for about USD 1 billion, a deal completed in August 2025.

The Kenya and Nigeria exits together illustrate Holcim’s shift away from certain African markets, even as local operators like Amsons Group expand their footprint.

The company has also reported declines in group sales in Swiss francs tied to these divestments, though underlying operations in local markets have shown resilience.