Benson Sande Ndeta is a Kenyan businessman who is best known as the founder of Savannah Cement and later Savannah Clinker.
The tycoon, who has mastered the art of keeping a low public profile, is one of the most powerful figures in Kenya’s cement manufacturing industry.
Ndeta is an architect, a corporate leader, cement industry investor, and serial entrepreneur
This is his journey as told by WoK:
Who is Benson Ndeta?
According to Construction Kenya, Ndeta, who was born in 1972, holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology.
He is also a member of the Architectural Association of Kenya as well as the Quantity Surveyors in Kenya.
Ndeta shot to the national limelight in 2003 when then-Trade Minister Mukhisa Kituyi appointed him as chairman of East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) when he was just 31 years old.
As chairman, he managed to steer EAPCC from financial ruin and transformed it into a profit-making company, with its production capacity increasing and its financial performance also improving.
Founding Savannah Cement
Ndeta left EAPCC in 2008 and became one of the key founders of Savannah Cement in 2012, alongside Chinese investors and two other Kenyans named John Gachanga and Donald Mwaura.
The company sought to challenge established construction giants such as Bamburi Cement, East African Portland Cement, Mombasa Cement, and Athi River Mining.
Savannah Cement quickly gathered momentum, and by mid 2010, it had become one of East Africa’s largest cement manufacturers.
However, Ndeta fell into various legal battles and disputes with his business associates, which led him to cede his stake in Savannah Cement to a third party in November 2022.
After co-founding Savannah Cement, Ndeta launched another company, Savannah Clinker Limited, in 2019.
Instead of manufacturing cement directly, Ndeta’s new company focused on the production of clinker, one of the main raw materials used in cement production.
He launched a multi-billion-shilling clinker plant in Kitui County, which supplied numerous manufacturing factories across the country with clinker.
Acquiring Bamburi Cement
In August 2024, Ndeta’s company, Savannah Clinker, attempted to acquire Bamburi Cement, one of East Africa’s largest cement manufacturers.
His initial bid was Sh25.41 billion, while another Tanzanian conglomerate, Amsons Group, offered 23.59 billion.
Ndeta reportedly offered up to KSh 75 per share, far outbidding the Tanzanian company.
However, legal troubles disrupted his effort, and Savannah Clinker was forced to withdraw from the acquisition process.
Had the bid succeeded, Ndeta would have earned a seat at the table of Africa’s most powerful cement tycoons, such as Aliko Dangote of Nigeria, who owns Dangote Cement.
Aside from cement manufacturing, public records show that Ndeta has been involved in several other companies.
He has served as director of Adventis Inhouse Africa, an architectural consultancy involved in planning and design projects.
Additionally, he is associated with Rapid Communications Ltd, a telecommunications service provider focused on the provision of wireless technologies and broadband services.
Controversy
In 2025, Ndeta was involved in legal battles that involved allegations of defrauding Absa Bank of ksh 4.5 billion.
The prosecution also alleged that Ndeta prepared and presented forged company documents to Absa’s relationship manager as genuine company records.
The arrest caused widespread speculation, with former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka suggesting that the charges were fabricated to sabotage his acquisition of Bamburi Cement.
“The arrest of Kenyan industrialist Benson Sande Ndeta today is intended to stop his bid for Bamburi Cement,” Said Kalonzo.
However, a High Court judgment quashed the criminal proceedings, declaring Ndeta’s prosecution as unlawful, null, and void.