Crown Paints warns cheap building materials will raise maintenance costs
Crown Paints' Tom Oyier told quantity surveyors in Mombasa that cheap materials leave property owners with repeated repair bills. His warning comes after construction grew 6.8 per cent in 2025, according to KNBS.
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…
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