NAIRAOBI, Mar 12 – Würth Group will shut down its Kenyan subsidiary, Wuerth Kenya Ltd, at the end of May 2026, ending nearly three decades of operations in the East African market.
In a notice dated March 10 and sent to customers and partners, the Nairobi based distributor said the decision forms part of a broader restructuring of the German industrial group’s global operations. The company said it will continue operating normally until the end of May while it winds down activities and settles outstanding obligations.
Managing director John Anderson said the move followed a strategic review by the parent company. Customers with ongoing transactions have been advised to liaise with the firm to finalise orders, accounts and other engagements during the transition period.
The planned closure could affect close to 500 employees, according to reports, though the company has not confirmed the number of staff that may lose their jobs as operations are phased out.
Wuerth Kenya has operated in the country for about 29 years, supplying fastening and assembly materials used across sectors such as automotive repair, vehicle assembly, construction, manufacturing and engineering. The exit adds to a growing list of multinational companies that have scaled back or closed operations in Kenya in recent years, including CMC Motors Group, GlaxoSmithKline and Procter & Gamble.
Würth said it will manage the shutdown process while ensuring that pending commercial and legal obligations with customers and business partners are properly concluded before the closure takes effect.
