Chinese industrial technology is having a significant impact on Kenya's packaging industry, with Chinese-made machinery being used to improve efficiency and production capacity. In the lakeside city of Kisumu, local manufacturers are benefiting from the technology, which is helping to meet growing demand for packaging materials. The packaging industry plays a vital role in protecting products, preserving quality, and connecting manufacturers with consumers.
IBS Pack Prints, a packaging company established in 2023, is one of the companies benefiting from Chinese technology. The company was set up to address a shortage of packaging suppliers in western Kenya, a region with numerous tea factories, bakeries, and agricultural processing businesses. According to Beatrice Omari, the company's administration director, the investment was intended to bring packaging production closer to manufacturers in the Nyanza and Western regions.
Chinese machinery forms the backbone of IBS Pack Prints' operations, handling printing, processing, and cutting of packaging materials. The company sources 99% of its machines from China, as well as raw materials such as CPP and PET. Chinese engineers also traveled to Kenya to install and commission the machinery, ensuring production systems were operational before handing them over to local workers. This cooperation extends beyond equipment supply and has strengthened local production capacity while reducing the need for businesses to source packaging from distant suppliers.
The technology has automated tasks previously performed manually, improving efficiency and production consistency. Eric Onyango, the company's Production Manager, says modern machinery has transformed daily operations, making it easier to switch on the machine and have it cut packaging materials. However, operating advanced equipment requires technical knowledge, particularly when handling different packaging materials and maintaining production systems. Onyango traveled to China in 2025 to acquire additional machinery as the company sought to expand its operations.
The investment has created opportunities for workers to develop skills in machine operation, maintenance, and quality control. Packaging plays a critical role in determining how products reach consumers, preserving quality, and protecting goods during transportation. For manufacturers and retailers, packaging strengthens branding and product identification. Henry Koskey, Assistant Branch Manager at Kipchimatt, a retail business in western Kenya, says packaging helps consumers distinguish products from competing brands.
IBS Pack Prints supplies packaging for a variety of products, including bread, tea, sugar, water, ice cream, ice pops, and beans, as well as materials used by hospitals and pharmaceutical businesses. The diversity of its customers highlights the industry's contribution to agriculture, food processing, healthcare, and retail. As Kenya expands local manufacturing and agricultural value addition, reliable packaging will remain essential for businesses seeking to access wider markets.
Despite technological advances, packaging manufacturers face challenges, including high equipment costs, imported raw materials, and unreliable electricity supply. At IBS Pack Prints, power interruptions can disrupt production and force operators to restart machinery. Nevertheless, demand for packaging continues to create opportunities for industrial investment, and access to Chinese machinery offers opportunities to modernize production, develop technical skills, and strengthen manufacturing capacity.
Key points
- Chinese technology is transforming Kenya's packaging industry, improving efficiency and production capacity for local manufacturers.
- IBS Pack Prints is one of the companies benefiting from Chinese technology, with Chinese-made machinery handling printing, processing, and cutting of packaging materials.
- The investment has created opportunities for workers to develop skills in machine operation, maintenance, and quality control, and has strengthened local production capacity while reducing the need for businesses to source packaging from distant suppliers.
