Würth Group is leaving Kenya after 29 years.

“We regret to inform you that Würth Kenya will be ceasing its operations and formally closing down its business,” Managing Director John Anderson announced to customers on March 10.

“This decision has been made after careful consideration and forms part of a broader strategic restructuring of the Würth Group’s operations.”

Würth Kenya will continue to operate “normally” until the end of May, when close to 500 Kenyans will be laid off.

Würth has its main offices in Nairobi Mombasa Rd., Alpha Centre, Unit 26 and a branch office in Mombasa and Kisumu.

“The closure of the company once again turns the focus back to the cost of operating and running businesses in the country which in recent times has brought about unpredictability,” reports Fred Kagonye for The Standard.

“The supplies market targeting garages and construction industries had been facing competition from cheap imports which are preferred by customers due to their low cost.”