Chinese electricals supplier Hexing pledges Ksh1.3b for Kenya operations

Chinese electrical equipment supplier Hexing Africa has pledged to invest Ksh1.3 billion ($10 million) in its Kenya operations even as it moved to new offices at Sunflag Industrial Park along Mombasa Road in Nairobi on Friday.

Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira was the chief guest at the event.

Hexing East Africa CEO Zhou Xiping said the company will use Kenya to expand its base across the East African region, even as it seeks to expand its product offering.

“We start with the business of smart meters, smart distributions, then solar and then water (smart devices) and then expand outside,” said Xiping.

Hexing Africa is a subsidiary of Hexing Electrical Co. Ltd. and specializes in supplying electrical and renewable energy solutions. It is a member company of Chinese firm Hexing Group, which was established in 1992 and is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since 2016.

The Hexing Group operates in more than 90 countries globally, and in Africa, it has a presence in Senegal, Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. In Kenya, it launched in 2015.

“The ribbon cutting ceremony marks our commitment  to drive sustainable growth in the region through expanded operations. You are all welcome to our new offices at Sunflag Industrial Park, Mombasa Road, Nairobi Kenya next to Hilton Garden Inn,” said Hexing following the launch.

The company says that since it launched in Kenya, it has supplied and installed over 4,000,000 smart meters, systems, and accessories for East Africa, including 2,500,000 in Kenya.

It added that its products are designed with high-quality components, 80% of which are provided by well-known international suppliers from Germany, Japan, the among others.

Wachira reiterated that the government will provide a conducive environment for foreign investors to establish and scale up their businesses in Kenya.

“The first thing that any manufacturer wants to look at is accessibility of reliable and stable power, number two is the ability to get the requisite human resource which Kenya is adequately endowed with,” said Wachira.

The PS’s remarks come at a time when majority of businesses operating in the country are struggling under the weight of increased taxation, high cost of inputs, stiff competition and muted demand for their products.

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