By Andrew Kariuki
The Liberal Democratic Party, LDP, has accused the Kenyan government of facilitating a monopoly in the glass manufacturing sector, warning that the policy failure is exposing the country to an estimated Ksh 1.7 billion in annual fiscal losses and placing more than 24,000 direct and indirect jobs at risk.
In a press statement issued on February 10, 2026, outside The Milimani Law Courts, LDP presidential aspirant Fred Ogola said local glass processors have been forced to source raw materials from a single supplier, KEDA Ceramics of Tanzania, at prices higher than prevailing global market rates.
Prof. Ogola argued that the arrangement undermines Kenya’s manufacturing competitiveness and contradicts the government’s stated economic transformation agenda, warning that inflated input costs could cripple local production and exports.
The concerns arise from a constitutional petition filed by businessman and registered float glass processor Peter Imbayi Indaso, who sued the Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Attorney General.
In the petition, Indaso argued that the State violated the right to fair administrative action by failing to implement a statutory exemption provided for under the Finance Act 2025.
Under the Finance Act of 2025, a 35% excise duty was introduced on imported float glass, while registered local processors were to be exempted following verification by the Ministry of Industry.
Despite a ministry report approving ten companies for exemption, the petition states that none received formal communication, leading to the detention of their cargo and escalating storage and logistical costs.
Following the filing of the petition, the High Court issued interim orders directing the release of detained glass imports belonging to registered processors.
The orders, issued on December 22, 2025, by Justice Bahati Mwamuye, allowed the clearance of the shipments without immediate payment of excise duty, provided the processors secured the amounts through bank or insurance guarantees.
Prof. Ogola says the alleged monopoly has far-reaching consequences for ordinary Kenyans, including increased housing and construction costs, potential job losses as processors scale down operations, and the loss of an estimated Ksh 1.7 billion annually in taxes, levies and logistics-related revenue.
The party leader has called on the government to fully disclose the policy rationale behind the supply arrangement, identify beneficiaries, and outline safeguards to protect local industry and public revenue.
Prof. Ogola linked the issue to broader concerns about political accountability, warning that economic mismanagement has immediate consequences for workers and businesses.
“For workers losing jobs today, economic pain is immediate, not a 2027 campaign issue,” he said.
The LDP leader further claims that implementation of the exemption framework has been frustrated by administrative failures at the Ministry of Industry and the KRA, noting that the High Court has already directed the ministry to respond to the case and allow the release of exempted cargo under bond.
The party’s final call is for the restoration of fair competition, protection of jobs and strict implementation of existing economic laws to safeguard Kenya’s glass industry’s future.
