Bamburi Half Year Profit Hits Nine-Year High at KSh 1.37Bn Ahead of NSE Exit

Bamburi Cement has posted its strongest first-half profit in nine years, with profit rising 59% to KSh 1.37Billion in the six months to June 2026 as revenue growth, higher operating earnings and a sharp recovery in cash generation strengthened the cement maker ahead of its expected exit from the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

• Turnover rose 20% to KSh 13.72Billion from KSh 11.42Billion, while operating profit jumped 72% to KSh 2.05Billion, its highest first-half level since 2017. Profit before tax increased 77% to KSh 2.19Bn from KSh 1.24Billion.
• Bamburi attributed the revenue growth to execution of its market strategy and expansion of its retail and key-account segments.
• Bamburi's shares have been suspended from trading since February 2025 to facilitate the takeover process, and its new owner, Amsons, included in its offer documents the option to seek delisting once it crossed the required ownership threshold, subject to regulatory approval.

The latest results extend a recovery that accelerated after Bamburi disposed of its 70% stake in Uganda's Hima Cement in March 2024, leaving Kenya as its continuing operating business. H1 turnover has since risen from KSh 10.90Bn in 2024 to KSh 11.42Bn in 2025 and KSh 13.72Bn this year.

Operating profit has increased even faster, from KSh 544Mn in H1 2024 to KSh 1.19Bn in 2025 and KSh 2.05Bn in 2026. The latest profit after tax is Bamburi's highest first-half result since the KSh 1.85Bn reported in 2017, although it remains below profits recorded during the larger pre-Hima-disposal group era.

Cash generation also strengthened. Cash generated from operations increased to KSh 2.66Bn from KSh 502Mn, while net operating cash flow swung to an inflow of KSh 2.25Bn from an outflow of KSh 290Mn. Bamburi attributed the improvement to higher profitability and disciplined working-capital management.

The recovery follows Amsons Industries' takeover of Bamburi in December 2024. Amsons initially acquired 96.54% of the cement maker and had increased its holding to 99.98% by June 2025, leaving ten minority shareholders holding 67,082 shares as the compulsory acquisition process continued.

The board did not declare an interim dividend for H1 2026. Bamburi last paid an interim dividend in H1 2021, at KSh 2.00 per share, meaning it has now gone five consecutive first-half periods, from 2022 through 2026, without an interim payout. The company has, however, paid other distributions during that period, including final dividends and the KSh 18.25 per share special dividend in 2024 following the Hima Cement disposal.