Too many buildings collapsing - something must be wrong with materials

[RV Pundit]

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I suspect cement or steel in kenya is doggdy?

[Kadudu]

A combination of many factors. The planing could be very poor and the structural engineers are third class. No inspection during construction by the engineers or the county officials. Quality and quantity of cement and steel leaves a lot wanting. A recipe for disaster. No consequences so far despite of several buildings coming down in the past few years. Nobody seems to care and take responsibility.

[Georgesoros]

Do these things have insurance?
I think they require buildings to be structurally sound before providing insurance.
Any govt engineer whose building faails should be fired and charged with non performance.

[RV Pundit]

I think cement has issues - why all over sudden. I think for now we need a PROBE/INQUIRY to understand what hell is going on.

[Githunguri]

1) Quality of cement...some professionals only use bamburi and avoid brands like simba and then if you are doing a big project try from 42.5.

2) Concrete/Koroga ratio...If you are building using rock sand or Naivasha sand..you need to have strong concrete mix with lots of cement...or just buy READY MIC CONCRETE.

Most builders don't follow these rules...After doing the slab the next day..they start doing columns..then bricks don't even water the structure becomes weak day by day.

3) Foundation..The foundation set by these people doesn't correspond with the size of the structure...The structure is too heavy to be supported by those weak pillars or base whether in red soil or cotton.

With all these factors plus a foreman and owner who have no regard for an engineer.. building will continue to collapse.

[audacityofhope]

As always armchair analysts making generalized remarks. Just do simple research before unfairly blaming the companies making the building materials. Are these collapsing building all over Kenya or are they localized in specific areas? Nairobi and its environments have become notorious. A few of the 47 counties are notorious at not adhering to building best practice! Different soils require handling when laying the foundation. As an example, the by-laws in Bungoma county for a long time forbade building more than 6 floors. When a slab is done it must cure for 21 days before the temp supports are removed. Only then will building for the next floor continue. Building in Nairobi goes on non-stop without interruption, probably because all the money, corruptly obtained or otherwise, does not dry up. It must be years now since it was reported that a building collapsed in Bungoma yet in Nairobi, Kisii etc, there can be two collapses within a week! Building should be handled professionally from the Architect drawing, getting county approvals, involving structural engineers to the time a certificate of occupancy (OC) is issued. Don't rush your building timelines!

[Georgesoros]

Its poor workmanship. An engineer is supposed to test the quality of all materials used before approving onsite installation.

[KenyanPlato]

stupid kenyans going into investments without proper capitalization and research
 may landlords are idiots

[audacityofhope]

Wale mnapiga makele hapa ... armchair quack engineers, mistakes in construction, simple quiz:
Someone is calling this building "amazing". Anyone know what is wrong here? anything likely to "collapse"? NB: It is not about the cement that was used!

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[RV Pundit]

Today it's ruaka.Every day now.I suspect cement

[audacityofhope]

Today it's ruaka.Every day now.I suspect cement

Your suspicions are unfounded.  The load-bearing structural elements on storied buildings are beams & columns, not cement. Construction 101. All construction engineers (I am not talking computer engineers) know it is chuma with its tensile strength that carries and transfers the load to the ground safely.

Those noisy people who call themselves "hardworkers" ply their business credentials in Nairobi environs. They even tell us 60% of the economy comes from these areas. Yet their buildings are literally a house of cards. Thank goodness for Devolution. Politicians bad habits aside, unlike Nairobi, the hustlers in counties are building capacity premised on discipline and best practice culture. Should there be a fatality on site know that for not less than 2 years the county will put a stop to all activity on the site - too high a price to pay!

Plato has a point about stupid kenyans going into investments just coz they have made a windfall or others without proper capitalization and not doing enough research or professional oversight. There was a time there was only one certified and registered structural engineer in the whole county. So to get approval you needed his signature. Since he could not be at all building sites, he took your money for the signature and delegated the jobs to fresh graduates trying to get a foothold in the market.

[audacityofhope]

Since they always steal elections kule juu my people are learning to take care of themselves in the counties while letting those who keep making noise about being "hardworkers" be.

Trans Nzoia people most financially stable in Kenya

[RV Pundit]

You need to go for therapy to heal from odinga loss

Since they always steal elections kule juu my people are learning to take care of themselves in the counties while letting those who keep making noise about being "hardworkers" be.

Trans Nzoia people most financially stable in Kenya

[Georgesoros]

This is a public safety issue, so why isnt county doing inspections every inch when construction is going on any story building???

[gout]

I also don't buy the line about shortcuts by the owners or lack of professionals.

Many buildings built when few could afford architects and engineers are still standing strong.

[RV Pundit]

Precisely. Nobody invest in huge million dollar building and commit such grave mistakes. Building is not complicated. Something is wrong. I suspect cement and steel..these are now produced locally..including clinker...

We need a proper scientific testing of cement and steel rebars.

Building these common houses do not need structural engineers because the plans are copy paste - and the fundis are the same - and have normally built somewhere else.

I think something is wrong with SAND (that lava thing from Mai Mahiu is now in vogue instead of the river sand) - cement - and then maybe steel.

That suswa sand was "discovered" by chinese contractors - and they did test in china - and said it was good alternative. Maybe it's not good.

For now I would urge folks to use river sand, bamburi cement and only rebars or steel from old established companies - avoid new things.

Kayole 20yrs ago - was huge mess of tall badly built building - dandora - kariobangi - name them - NONE COLLAPSED.

Heck in 1993 when I first came to Nairobi for more than a day - we went to zimmerman - huge buildings - none collapsed.

I also don't buy the line about shortcuts by the owners or lack of professionals.

Many buildings built when few could afford architects and engineers are still standing strong.