Why Kenya must safeguard its construction industry via quality materials

Product integrity — or the lack thereof — is an issue we rarely discuss in Kenya, despite its grave consequences to both human life and the economy.

Apart from food standards, where safety concerns directly and usually affect public health, most other products seem to escape the same scrutiny. Take for instance construction materials.

The construction sector faces an alarming influx of substandard materials, according to regulators. While there’s no recent consolidated data on the total economic impact, past reports offer a worrying glimpse. A 2019 report by the National Construction Authority (NCA) revealed that the use of substandard materials increases the likelihood of building collapse by 28 percent.

Between 2009 and 2019, 86 buildings valued at over Sh2.4 billion collapsed, resulting in over 200 deaths and 1,000 injuries. The National Building Inspectorate further notes that 65 percent of these were residential, 25 percent commercial, and 10percent mixed-use.

The culprits range from legitimate manufacturers cutting corners to black-market counterfeiters, all of whom exploit Kenyans’ preference for lower prices amid tough economic times.

The sanctity of cement quality, which is defined by stringent standards is being compromised. Two scenarios lend credence to this.

First, bagged cement available in the market from some manufacturers has been found to be sub-standard by the regulator. A plausible explanation points to manufacturers who could be deliberately tinkering with the clinker content required to make acceptable cement as per the required standards [mostly on the commonly used 32.5MPa cements]. Here's why: Clinker is costly to produce.

The less used, the more the savings in costs of production enabling higher profits. But clinker is the key component of strength in cement. The less you use, the weaker the cement. Herein, lies the tragedy.

Second, the market is rife with counterfeiters, as confirmed by the regulator, that purchase legitimate cement from manufacturers, adulterate it, re-package and sell it cheaply. One 50 kg bag of cement added with unknown and inferior materials can produce two or three bags [think of the fertilizer scandal and the adulteration with soils and stones].

This goes on dangerously unabated and can lead to disastrous or fatal consequences. Unfortunately, the end user is unable to discern the quality of the cement due to testing inabilities or lack of awareness and blissfully uses the cheapest product available.

Ironically, this happens in a market where quality is highly valued. A Geopoll Household Survey across Sub-Saharan Africa found that 60 percent of households rank product quality as their top purchase driver — over price or quantity. Delivering substandard materials is not just a regulatory issue; it’s a moral and criminal offense.

This is more than a consumer rights issue — it is a national safety crisis. The unchecked spread of substandard materials threatens lives, undermines the industry’s integrity, and puts Kenya’s infrastructure ambitions at risk — especially at a time when the global sector is shifting toward sustainable and resilient construction.

To protect the interests of every Kenyan who aspires to build and construct, this country requires strict adherence to standards, rigorous testing, law enforcement, and a transparent supply chain.

Additionally, it would be essential to conduct coordinated sensitisation awareness and educate Kenyans on the value of high-quality building and construction materials. With this information, Kenyans will be able to make wise choices that will shield their assets and means of subsistence against dishonest parties' predatory tactics.

Kenyans have the right to safe homes, reliable infrastructure, and peace of mind. We must not normalize the erosion of trust and safety in this vital industry. The time to act is now!

The author is Bamburi Cement Plc’s Commercial Director