Building your own home in Kenya is a dream many pursue—but few anticipate just how many “invisible” costs come crawling in once construction begins. The figures you scribbled in your notebook or entered into that Excel sheet? They probably only reflect about 70% of what you’ll end up spending. These hidden costs don’t make headlines, […]
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16
May
From Mabati to Marble: Tracing the Evolution of Kenyan Home Finishes (And What It Says About You)
Walk into a newly built home in Nairobi, Eldoret, or even Nyeri today, and you’re likely to find imported tiles, quartz countertops, suspended ceilings, and LED lighting strips. But ask your parents—or take a stroll through homes built in the ’80s—and you’ll find a different story: mabati roofing sheets, chipboard ceilings, terrazzo floors, and green […]
09
May
Red Soil vs. Black Cotton Soil: The Untold Story Behind Your House’s Foundation
Before you dream of floor tiles or ceiling designs, there’s a silent influencer you should understand—the soil beneath your home. In Kenya, the two most common types of soil that construction projects deal with are red soil and black cotton soil. They may seem like just colour variations, but they behave very differently, especially when […]
01
May
Why Your Dream Home Fails on Paper: Common Architectural Design Missteps Kenyans Overlook
You’ve saved up. You’ve bought land. You even have an architect. So why do some dream homes still turn into real-life regrets? Many Kenyans find out—painfully—that poor architectural planning can lead to everything from structural headaches to living spaces that just don’t feel right. Here’s the kicker: most of these mistakes are avoidable. Before the […]
25
April
Could Kenya’s Skyscraper Craze Lead to a Ghost City Scenario?
As a construction worker in Kenya, I’ve seen Nairobi’s skyline change faster than most people can keep up. New skyscrapers seem to sprout from the ground overnight, with cranes dotting the city like some kind of urban forest. But amidst all this vertical growth, one question lingers in my mind: Are we building for tomorrow, […]
18
April
The Business of Demolition: Who Profits When Buildings Collapse?
I’m a Kenyan construction worker, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this industry, it’s that nothing happens by accident—especially not collapsed buildings. When a structure crumbles, the news cameras come, the government makes noise, and people shake their heads in disbelief. But behind the scenes, there’s a well-oiled machine waiting to cash in. […]
11
April
The False Promise of “Made in Kenya” Construction Materials
I have worked in the Kenyan construction sector long enough to know one thing—whenever a contractor says, “We are using local materials,” it’s either a lie or a warning that trouble is coming. The government keeps preaching the gospel of Buy Kenya, Build Kenya, but on the ground, where bricks hit mortar, things are different. […]
04
April
Beyond Cement and Steel: Is Kenya Ready for 3D-Printed Homes?
I’ve worked construction long enough to see the industry shift—new machines, new materials, new shortcuts. But 3D-printed homes? That sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Yet, it’s happening. Not in some distant future, but right now. The big question is: Can Kenya embrace this technology, or will it remain another futuristic dream? […]
28
March
The Cooling Conundrum: Why Kenyan Developers Ignore Passive Cooling Techniques
As the sun beats down on Kenya’s bustling cities, residents seek refuge in cooler spaces. But have you ever wondered why modern buildings in Kenya seem to ignore the age-old wisdom of passive cooling techniques? It’s a question that gets to the heart of our relationship with the built environment and the climate. The Forgotten […]
21
March
The Underground Economy of Kenyan Construction: Who Really Makes the Money?
I’m a construction worker. Been in this game for over a decade, working with Lanny Builders Limited. I’ve laid bricks, mixed concrete, and seen things that don’t make it to the headlines. If you think developers, engineers, and contractors are the biggest winners in construction, let me tell you—there’s a whole underground economy running this […]