Manufacturing & Industrials

Manufacturing and industrials lawyers for domestic and multinational manufacturers in food and beverage, FMCG, building materials and chemicals. We advise on plant and asset acquisition, supply-chain and distribution agreements, employment and union relations, environmental compliance (NEMA), product standards (KEBS) and competition compliance for businesses operating in Kenya’s industrial base.

Relevant expertise: Corporate & Commercial; Employment & Labour; Competition & Antitrust; Real Estate & Property; Dispute Resolution & ADR

How we help. We act for domestic and multinational manufacturers in food and beverage, FMCG, building materials and chemicals on plant and asset acquisition, supply-chain and distribution agreements, employment and trade-union relations, environmental compliance with NEMA, product-standards compliance with KEBS, and competition compliance. We also handle the property and tax workstreams that industrial operations generate.

Why OLM for manufacturing and industrials. Manufacturers carry workforce, environmental, product-standards and competition risk simultaneously. We provide a single team that keeps the plant compliant on all fronts and handles the commercial contracts and disputes that come with running an industrial business in Kenya.

Frequently Asked Questions

What standards compliance do manufacturers need in Kenya? Products generally require Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) standardisation-mark certification, and operations require NEMA environmental compliance. We manage certification and environmental licensing.

How are supply and distribution agreements regulated? They are governed by general contract law and the Competition Act, which restricts certain exclusivity and resale-price arrangements. We draft distribution terms that are commercial and competition-compliant.

What environmental compliance applies to factories? Factories require NEMA environmental approvals and ongoing compliance, including effluent and emissions rules. We advise on environmental licensing.

What employment and union issues affect manufacturers? Large workforces raise collective-bargaining, health-and-safety and restructuring questions. We advise on union relations and compliance.