Schneider to make industrial switchboards in Nairobi plant

Listed French multinational, Schneider Electric has established an assembly line in Nairobi for industrial switchboards to be sold across East Africa.

The Prisma iPM switchboard applicable for use in industries, commercial buildings, hotels, schools and hospitals, among others is being produced by a team of Kenyan technicians.

“The investment we made was intentionally done to benefit Kenya via technology transfer, ‘buy Kenya build Kenya’ as well as benefit Kenya’s affordable housing projects,” said Carol Koech, Schnider general manager for East Africa.

Local production of the switchboard is expected to lower the products’ cost and reduce the time taken for it to reach the end-user.

The value preposition for the Prisma iPM switchboard is that it can be easily upgraded and is usable in all kinds of large and commercial scale buildings.

“Production of the switchboard locally aligns with our goal of localisation of industries which will help spur growth of the economy,” said Industrialisation cabinet secretary Betty Maina during the unveiling ceremony.

The Jubilee administration is paying special attention to affordable housing, manufacturing, food security and affordable healthcare as sectors that will drive Kenya’s economic agenda.

The government has identified 334 products that are locally made and whose consumption it will promote in its entities to boost local enterprise.

The switchboards are included in the preferential procurement list under the energy, electrical and electronics section.

Schneider Electric which has presence in 100 countries globally entered the Kenyan market in 2015 when it acquired Power Technics Limited, a company founded by businessman Naresh Mehta, in a deal that was estimated at more than Sh1 billion.