Traditional construction methods in East Africa have historically involved masons mixing sand, cement, aggregate and water on site for casting concrete on construction sites. However, since the recent building audit ordained by The Office of President Uhuru Kenyatta, change is now being proposed, challenging traditional building methods with new technologies and materials such as readymix concrete.
The building audit being conducted throughout Nairobi City County as well as other key counties in the country has uncovered at least 250 houses with structural defects out of over 2600 audited so far.
Research conducted during the building audit established that weak concrete mixes and sub-standard building materials were leading contributors to building collapse in the region.
To boost the sustainability and durability of structures, the Kenyan government has drafted a law that seeks to obligate builders to use readymix concrete instead of conventional site-mixed concrete for buildings of three storeys and more.
In response to this proposed legislation, Totally Construction East Africa, the region’s leading show for alternative construction technologies and building materials, is hosting one of South Africa’s top readymix experts, Johan van Wyk, General Manager of the Southern Africa Readymix Association, during its exclusive conference and exhibition held from 4 to 5 October 2016 at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
