Constructors shelve plans on rising price of building materials

The rising cost of building materials in Kenya has pushed construction costs by an average of Sh3,000 per square metre, forcing constructors to hold ongoing projects. 

The rising cost has been attributed to a disruption in the global market on the ongoing Russia/Ukraine crisis and the weakening shilling, with some cement, steel and paint firms announcing a price surge of at least two per cent. 

“I bought a bag of cement at Sh600 in Bondo end of January. Last week, I was told it has gone up to Sh1, 000 at the same shop. I am suspending construction for now,’’ Jack Owour lamented.

Yesterday, a Twitter user @Nick Kanali alluded to cement shortage in Eldoret and its environs saying that he was looking for 70bags but only managed to get 33.

“We have a cement shortage in this country. If you are lucky to get a bag, it costs Sh100 more,’’ he twitted.

His tweet attracted a number of his followers who shared their predicaments following the rising cost of building materials, with some, just like Owour considering shelving ongoing projects.

Many noted that the price of a bag of cement has gone up by at least Sh300 in the past two months.