EPS Technology Can Solve Kenya’s Housing Crisis

Prefabs are commonly used as temporary shelter for construction workers in Kenya, but can they become a solution to the country’s housing shortage?

The managing director of the National Housing Corporation (NHC) believes the expanded polystyrene (EPS) technology could help solve the housing crisis in the country by lowering costs while reducing construction time-lines.

Andrew Saisi says: “Cost benefits accrued from using EPS panels include reduced costs as construction time is reduced by 50 per cent; lower transport costs and lower wastage of materials since leftover panels can be recycled.”

The EPS technology involves building of houses by assembling EPS foam, sandwiched between a galvanised steel wire mesh that is plastered on both sides with concrete.

Single lorry load

A standard two-bedroom house measuring about 100 square metres requires about 70 panels each weighing 15kg – meaning an entire house can be carried in a single lorry load.

READ: Kenyan builders bet big on prefabricated homes

A single panel, which measures 1.5m x 3.0m costs Sh5,000 at the NHC’s factory, translating to a cost of Sh1,111 per sq.m +transport charges+ cost of concrete plasterwork.

Prefabs are attracting a growing number of home-owners not only due to their affordability but also because they are built within a shorter period.

In fact a three-bedroom house can be built in 14 days.

The shift towards the use of prefabs is good for Kenya, a country whose demand for housing stands at over 200,000 units against a supply of just 40,000 units annually.

Developed countries

Although prefabs have been widely accepted in developed countries, the greatest challenge to the uptake of the technology locally is the “Kenyan mindset”.

“Kenyans tend to think that if it’s not stone then it’s not good for building — just like the way we think that if it’s not ‘ugali’ it can’t be food,” says Mr Saisi.

However, with strategic marketing – particularly assuring Kenyans that prefabs are secure – the technology will soon take off as more builders seek to dodge the rising construction costs.

Join 15,000+ pros getting our weekly digest of news and insights.