Might be today after 4:00 pm

I want to believe you. ill be very interested in the fuel sales they are making, that must have gone down drastically. after they clear the skeletons, they should concentrate on the core business... improve stations infrastructure, better service, more services etc. ahem like shell and total. the brand image needs to change. and I'm sure the retail margins are better now than 1-2 yrs ago.

Lafarge needs cash to lower cashflow levels ahead of merger but also complete acquisitions in asia.

Despite what folks think, Bamburi is a small part of LaFarge's global business. And within Africa, it is not the largest business unit either and has other factories including in Nigeria (LaFarge Wapco), Zambia (LaFarge Chilanga), etc so I am sure a Shs 6/share dividend is not going to make a huge difference to them. They claim 6/- for the 60 years. Perhaps that is true.

Many firms accumulate cash as a defensive mechanism but if you retain cash, it reduces your ROE.
Warren Buffett has said that when BH cannot deploy the cash to earn a 'positive' [higher than average] return then he will distribute the excess cash.
I am not sure where Bamburi lost the plot but it stopped growing unlike ARM among others (new firms) in Kenya. I think it planned a takeover of EAPCC but politics killed the deal.
So Bamburi doesn't need the cash to expand at the moment. If GoK gets its act together, it may buy out Bamburi's stake in EAPCC which means more cash in hand.

Capex: Bamburi has already SPENT the majority of the capex it needs to maintain its current production in Mombasa, Nairobi and Uganda (Hima). Perhaps all it needs is cash for maintenance but that is covered by operating profits.

EAC: I believe LaFarge may see expansion in TZ to be a better bet just as ARM has done. Eventually, the TZ economy will be bigger than Kenya but LaFarge has the capacity to invest in TZ and wait.

Trades: LaFarge cannot buy more shares in any one year beyond their current holdings without an exemption from CMA. Refer to the 'exemption' from the Takeover Rules that Chris Kirubi applied for.