Paint Manufacturers Push for Tax Incentives to Accelerate Lead-Free Production
Kenya's paint manufacturers are calling on the government to introduce targeted tax incentives to support the production of lead-free paints, saying the move would lower manufacturing costs, improve public health and strengthen the competitiveness of locally produced paints.
The appeal was made during the Africa Coatings Expo, where industry players noted that manufacturers have invested heavily in transitioning from conventional lead-based paints to safer alternatives that comply with international health and environmental standards. However, they said high production costs, rising energy prices and expensive raw materials continue to slow the transition.
Speaking at the event, Hermosa Paints Product Manager Joel Gathu said Kenya had made significant progress in eliminating lead from decorative paints but warned that sustaining the transition would require a more supportive tax and policy environment. He argued that tax incentives would reduce production costs, make lead-free paints more affordable and enable local manufacturers to compete more effectively against imported products.
Industry stakeholders also noted that wider adoption of lead-free paints would support Kenya's public health goals by reducing exposure to lead, which has been linked to serious neurological and developmental health effects, particularly among children. They added that the incentives would complement the government's industrialisation agenda under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) while encouraging innovation and investment across the manufacturing value chain.
Manufacturers further said improved competitiveness would position Kenya to take advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by increasing exports of internationally compliant paint products to regional markets. They called for closer collaboration between government, regulators and industry to accelerate the production of safer, high-quality paints while strengthening Kenya's manufacturing sector.
