Tom Oyier, head of the construction sector at Crown Paints, warned that substandard materials could cost Kenyan property owners and investors more over time. He spoke at the Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya (IQSK) Annual Convention in Mombasa, The Standard reported. He said owners will keep paying maintenance bills unless developers prioritise durable materials, quality workmanship and sustainable practices.
The warning comes as construction picks up. Citing the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey 2026, Oyier said the sector grew 6.8 per cent in 2025. It had shrunk 0.7 per cent in 2024. He added that cement consumption rose 20.3 per cent, a sign of renewed building activity.
He urged developers to look beyond initial construction costs and consider how materials perform over the long term. "The industry must shift its focus from the lowest initial price to the long-term value of buildings," he said. He added that choosing cheaper materials without considering durability can lead to repeated repairs.
Oyier asked quantity surveyors to promote lifecycle costing. This means weighing durability, maintenance needs and long-term performance when advising developers on materials and budgets. He said sustainable construction starts with proper planning, clear material specifications and quality application. According to Oyier, this cuts waste, makes buildings last longer and protects investments.
He described sustainability as an economic choice as well as an environmental one. Picking the right materials from the start, he said, reduces repairs, replacement costs and wasted material. He also linked quality to Kenya's target of at least 200,000 affordable housing units a year. He said delivering that housing sustainably will depend on keeping quality high and future maintenance costs low.
Crown Paints also unveiled the Crown Colour Visualizer. The digital tool lets developers and architects test colour combinations before painting, helping them avoid costly design changes. The company has also rolled out the Crown Italia Series, a range of premium decorative finishes. It supported a tree-planting activity during the convention.