Kenya’s paint manufacturing industry is urging the government to introduce targeted tax incentives to support the production of lead-free paints, arguing that such measures would strengthen local manufacturing, improve public health, and enhance the competitiveness of Kenyan products in both domestic and regional markets.
Industry players say the sector has made significant investments in transitioning from conventional lead-based paints to safer, environmentally responsible alternatives. However, they caution that the high cost of raw materials, coupled with an increasingly expensive tax environment, threatens to slow progress at a time when demand for safer construction materials continues to grow.
Speaking during the Africa Coatings Expo, Joel Gathu, Product Manager at Hermosa Paints Ltd, said Kenya’s paint manufacturers have embraced innovation by investing in lead-free paint technologies that meet international safety and environmental standards.
“The industry has made tremendous progress in eliminating lead from decorative paints, but sustaining this transition requires an enabling policy environment,” Gathu said.
“Tax incentives would reduce production costs, making locally manufactured lead-free paints more affordable and allowing Kenyan manufacturers to compete fairly against imported products.”
The call comes as governments across the world continue to tighten regulations on hazardous chemicals in building materials. Lead exposure remains one of the world’s most significant environmental health risks, with prolonged exposure linked to irreversible neurological damage, particularly among children. Construction workers and painters also face heightened occupational risks when handling products containing lead.
As Kenya continues to expand its housing, infrastructure and urban development programmes, industry stakeholders argue that increasing access to certified lead-free paints should form part of the country’s broader public health and sustainable development agenda.
Manufacturers say the transition to safer products has required substantial investments in research, product reformulation, quality assurance systems and compliance with international manufacturing standards. These investments, they note, have increased production costs at a time when manufacturers are also grappling with volatile global raw material prices, currency fluctuations and rising energy costs.
According to Gathu, introducing targeted fiscal incentives would not only make lead-free paints more affordable for consumers but would also encourage greater investment across the manufacturing value chain.
“An enabling business environment is critical for the continued growth of Kenya’s manufacturing sector. Policies that encourage innovation and reduce the cost of doing business will attract investment, stimulate industrial expansion and create more employment opportunities,” he said.
Industry leaders believe that supporting local manufacturers aligns with the government’s broader industrialisation agenda under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to increase manufacturing’s contribution to the national economy while creating sustainable jobs.
Beyond economic benefits, wider adoption of lead-free paints is expected to improve occupational safety standards, enhance environmental protection and reduce long-term healthcare costs associated with lead exposure.
The paint industry is also positioning itself to take advantage of growing regional demand under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), where manufacturers capable of producing internationally compliant products stand to access new export markets. Industry players argue that competitive tax policies would strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional manufacturing hub for quality paint products.
Hermosa Paints says it remains committed to producing premium-quality, lead-free paints that meet global safety standards while supporting Kenya’s sustainable development goals. The company believes stronger collaboration between government, regulators and manufacturers will accelerate the industry’s transformation and ensure consumers have access to safer, high-quality products at competitive prices.
As policymakers continue to explore strategies for revitalising local manufacturing, industry stakeholders maintain that tax incentives for lead-free paint production would represent a strategic investment not only in the future of Kenya’s manufacturing sector but also in the health, safety and wellbeing of millions of Kenyans.
