Kenya’s paint market is growing as construction picks up .[Courtesy]
Kenya’s paint market is growing as construction picks up, property owners renovate buildings and consumers seek more specialised paints, according to Basco Paints Managing Director Kamlesh Shah. He said the growth is creating opportunities for manufacturers but also increasing competition from regional and imported products.
Shah said the consumption is growing at a double-digit rate, faster than the overall economy, with demand coming from both new construction and the maintenance of existing properties.
“Consumption is more than the GDP growth of the country. It’s more like double-digit consumption, and we are fortunate to be in line with that,” Shah said during Basco Paints’ 50th anniversary dealer launch dinner.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the construction sector grew by 6.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, while the wider economy expanded by 5.3 per cent. The construction sector had grown by 6.8 per cent in 2025 after contracting by 0.7 per cent in 2024.
Shah said the recovery in construction is only part of the demand story because paint is also required for the refurbishment and maintenance of homes, offices and commercial properties.
“Paint goes into new construction as well as refinishing of existing property, existing commercial and residential household properties,” he said.
According to IndexBox, Kenya consumed about 156,000 tonnes of paints and varnishes in 2024, making it Africa’s second-largest consumer after Algeria, which recorded consumption of about 168,000 tonnes. Uganda followed with approximately 86,000 tonnes.