Top Paint Brands & Companies in Kenya
When it comes to painting your home, commercial building, or industrial facility in Kenya, choosing the right brand and company can make all the difference—not only for aesthetics but for durability, warranty, and overall value. In the dynamic Kenyan market, you’ll want to go for trusted names, local availability, good after-sales support, and products suited to our climate. I’ve personally overseen several projects in Nairobi where the initial cost savings of a budget paint turned into extra repainting costs within 2-3 years—so I speak from experience: picking quality pays off.
Comparison Table: Key Paint Brands in Kenya
Brand | Key Strengths | Typical Applications | Local Presence / Notes |
Crown Paints Kenya (often just Crown Paints) | Residential, commercial exteriors & interiors | Based in Nairobi, with a strong dealer network | |
Jotun (Kenya) | High-end finishes, luxury homes, commercial façades | Kenyan office/representation | |
Plascon (Kansai Plascon East Africa) | Residential & commercial projects | Nairobi distributor listed | |
Duracoat Paints Kenya | Middle-segmented projects, interior/exterior | Kenyan production by Basco/others | |
Royal Paints Kenya | Budget → mid-range homes, rental units | Kenyan-based brand |
Why the Kenyan Paint Market Matters
Kenya’s building boom—new residential suburbs in Nairobi and Mombasa, commercial towers, infrastructure works—means the coating and paint market is undergoing rapid growth. According to a recent overview, paint companies in Kenya are increasingly offering “eco-friendly and low-VOC paints” to meet demand.
From my own work in Nairobi’s industrial area, I’ve seen that choosing a paint brand that actively supports the project (for example, with colour charts, specifier services, or local technical support) helps reduce risks like early peeling, colour mismatch, or poor adhesion. For that reason alone, going with a brand that has presence locally—and not just imported cans—is smart.
Also, for your website visitors or clients, linking to authoritative sources and guiding them helps build trust. For example, you might want to visit your Paints in Kenya landing page and yourPaint Products in Kenya page to show your full offering.
1- Pergas Group – Your Trusted Partner in Kenya
Pergas Group is Nairobi’s premier supplier of premium construction and interior-finishing materials, including high-quality paints tailored to Kenya’s climate and building needs.
With free delivery on orders above KSh 200,000 within Nairobi County and a full range of decorative and industrial coatings, Pergas Group brings both quality products and professional support to your paint projects.
When you read through the rest of this article comparing major paint brands in Kenya, keep in mind that our High-Quality Paints in Kenya landing page and Premium Paint Products in Kenya page reflect the very standards and options Pergas Group stands behind.
2- Crown Paints Kenya – The Local Heavyweight
Crown Paints Kenya (sometimes “Crown Paints PLC”) is widely viewed as a leading paints manufacturer in Kenya. Their website says: “We are the leading paints and coating solutions Company in Kenya.”
What this means for you:
- A broad product mix (decorative paints, industrial coatings, road marking, adhesives) means one brand can serve multiple parts of your project.
- Strong dealer and distribution network reduces the risk of shortage or long lead times.
- Because they are so well-known, often the local applicators and painters already know their products, which helps in execution.
My experience: If you go with Crown Paints for a residential or commercial job, ask for their “Colour Chart” (they offer a digital app) and check if the specific product offers UV resistance (important for Kenya’s sunshine). From experience, if you pick a “standard” interior paint for an exterior job, you’ll regret it.
3. Jotun – Premium Global Player with Kenyan Reach
Jotun is a global coatings company (originating in Norway) with a presence in Kenya.
Why pick Jotun?
- If you’re working on a high-spec residential project, luxury villa, or a commercial façade where durability and finish matter, Jotun brings premium quality.
- They tend to provide stronger warranties and often have low-VOC or “health-friendly” product lines (useful for interior spaces).
- Because they are less “everyday” than some local brands, choosing them can also be a mark of “premium” in your build.
My experience: On a high-end project near Karen (Nairobi), specifying Jotun for the external walls meant the colour held up better after heavy rains and sun exposure, compared to standard local brands previously used. The extra cost was upfront, but saved repainting after 4 years.
4. Plascon (Kansai Plascon East Africa) – Balanced Choice
Plascon East Africa (Kansai Plascon) serves Kenya with a strong product range.
Why you might choose Plascon:
- Offers a very good balance of cost vs performance for residential & commercial projects.
- Good availability: e.g., local stores in Nairobi list their products with pricing visible.
- A variety of coatings (interior, exterior, roof, primers) means you can standardize more of your project under one brand.
Note: If you’re managing a budget-sensitive project but still want respectable durability and finish, Plascon is a smart pick.
How to Choose the Right Brand & Company for Your Project
Here are some decision-making criteria, drawn from my experience on the ground (in Nairobi, sometimes outside). Use this to guide your clients or your own build:
- Surface type & exposure – Interior vs exterior, high sun vs shaded wall, metal vs masonry. Some budget paints work fine indoors, but will fail outdoors in 2-3 years.
- Brand/local support – Does the brand have local dealers? Technical support? Colour charts? For example, Crown Paints has an app and dealer network.
- Substrate preparation – No matter how good the paint, if the wall wasn’t primed, cleaned, and repaired, you’ll get flaking and blistering. I’ve been on sites where failure was blamed on brand, but was actually poor prep.
- Finish & durability specs – Ask for UV resistance, washability, and recommended cycle. For high-visibility facades, the premium is worth it.
- Budget vs lifetime cost – A cheaper paint may cost less upfront, but if you repaint earlier, it gets more expensive over the lifecycle. I’ve seen a “cheap” paint require repainting after 3 years, vs a premium one lasting 7–8 years.
Linking to further reading – Since you’ll be guiding visitors/clientele of your site, link to your landing pages: see High-Quality Paints in Kenya and Premium Paint Products in Kenya for deeper information and product choices.
My Personal Take: What I Recommend
In summary, if I were advising a client today working on a mid-sized office/retail fit-out in Nairobi, here’s what I’d do:
- For interior walls: Go with Plascon or Duracoat to balance cost and performance.
- For exterior walls in a high-visibility zone (along Thika Road or near a major avenue): Invest in Jotun or Crown’s premium line, because the exposure will beat the paint fast.
- Choose a painter/contractor familiar with that brand, ask for product data (coverage per litre, re-coat interval), and ensure proper substrate prep.
FAQ
Q1: What is the typical lifespan of a good exterior paint job in Kenya?
A: For a high-quality brand, properly applied on a well-prepared surface, you should expect 6-8 years (or more) before major repainting. For budget brands or poor prep, it may be 2-4 years. Follow surface prep, primer, and correct coating schedule, and you’ll maximise lifespan.
Q2: Do I always need to use the most expensive premium brand?
A: Not necessarily. Match the brand to the project’s importance, budget, and exposure. For an interior rental flat, a mid-tier brand like Duracoat may suffice. For a luxury hotel façade or landmark building, premium brands like Jotun offer meaningful extra value.
Q3: How can I tell if the paint brand has good local support in Nairobi?
A: Indicators include: Branches or authorised dealers in Nairobi, colour charts and apps, after-sales support (e.g., repaints, warranty), painter training programmes,and presence of product specs (coverage, type, resistance). For example, Crown Paints Kenya lists a “Brush & Beyond” décor service and “find a painter” tools on their website.