- Construction chemicals cut construction time by 30 per cent
- Kenya has an annual housing demand of 250,000 units with an estimated supply of 50,000 units
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Construction chemicals will play an integral role in filling the housing deficit in Kenya and Africa by reducing costs and time wastage.
Speaking during the end-of-year ceremony for the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors of Kenya (BORAQS) organized by Long Chain Construction Chemicals, Public Works PS Joel Arumonyang hailed the technique as a key ingredient in the construction market.
"Construction chemicals have become an integral part of modern construction needs, improving the efficiency and costs. Such technology is vital here in Kenya as the government implements the low-cost housing plan," Arumonyang said.
Kenya has an annual housing demand of 250,000 units with an estimated supply of 50,000 units, culminating in a housing deficit of two million units, or 80 per cent deficit.
The government has already rolled out the affordable housing programme’s 200 per constituency project as promised by President William Ruto, building on some city projects started by his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta.
In June, the Head of State announced that 178 out of 290 sub-counties had been given the green light to construct the units.
Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga noted that all 290 constituencies have land available for the affordable housing programme.
He hailed Long Chain Construction Chemicals, a firm that opened its doors in 2020 in the country for innovative and sustainable products that continue to ease construction.
During the event, Long Chain Construction Chemicals demonstrated various techniques used to hasten the construction and durability of walls and floors.
According to Long Chain Construction Chemicals MD Sout Lut Ba Ran Sai, it is a flexible 2-part acrylic-modified contentious waterproofing system.
"It reacts chemically after mixing to form a hard and elastic film which bonds tenaciously to most concrete or masonry substrate to protect against possible ingress of water,'' Ba Ran said.
He added that the chemical requires the surface to be saturated or wet with K11 down before its application.
''This makes it a practical and ideal product for waterproofing in damp conditions such as basement, wet areas and external areas of most sites where the surface has to be pre-washed before applying any waterproofing system.''
Apart from LCCC K11, the firm sells Polycarboxylate which improves workability, durability, and overall performance, ensuring high-quality and long-lasting construction projects.
The firm's head of marketing Halima Hudhaa revealed that they are working with large construction firms in the country and are planning to export to Uganda and Tanzania in 2024.
"Although the firm is still new in the market, Long Chain Construction Chemicals is offering expert support to customers, setting it apart from its competitors,'' Halima said.
According to Halima, they only import necessary chemicals from China but all raw materials are sourced locally.
"We only import relevant chemicals but most of the materials used are local. Besides, we have partnered with several academic and construction sector players to improve research and development to pass skills to local artisans."
Construction chemicals are becoming a necessity in the sector, especially at a time when the world is looking for environmentally sustainable options that help to minimize power and water use.
This, together with the rising overall construction activities worldwide is set to propel the demand for construction chemicals in the future years.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) estimates that green buildings represent significant worldwide investment opportunities in the next ten years, and are anticipated to be worth $24.7 trillion by 2030.
These numbers are projected to surge at a fast pace in the assessment period, thereby boosting the demand for construction chemicals globally.
As per this report, demand for construction chemicals is expected to surge at over 6.7 per cent CAGR until 2032.
For better growth prospects in the construction industry, many multinational companies have started investing in developing advanced construction chemical products.
The African construction chemicals market is expected to register a CAGR of over three per cent during the forecast period.