Global Construction Giant Eyes Kenyan Market

&title=Global Construction Giant Eyes Kenyan Market” rel=”nofollow” alt=”telegram”> &name=Global Construction Giant Eyes Kenyan Market” rel=”nofollow” alt=”tumblr”> Mohammad Rijaz, Executive Director of ABC Group. Share &media=https://businesstoday.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/ABC-Group-Exec-Dir.-1-1600×1067.jpg” rel=”nofollow” alt=”pinterest”> &title=Global Construction Giant Eyes Kenyan Market” rel=”nofollow” alt=”telegram”> &name=Global Construction Giant Eyes Kenyan Market” rel=”nofollow” alt=”tumblr”> As Kenya’s construction sector returns to growth, international building-materials firm ABC Group is entering the Kenyan market with the opening of ABC Hauz, its 18th showroom in East Africa, located on Mombasa Road, Nairobi.

Launch comes at a time when the country continues to face a substantial gap between housing demand and supply, making the cost, availability and quality of building materials a focal issue for both the industry and wider homes market.

Mohammad Rijaz, Executive Director of ABC Group, said entry into the market marks a new investment commitment to Kenya’s building and construction sector.

“Kenya presents an important opportunity for businesses that understand the construction market and are prepared to build lasting relationships with customers. As investors, we need a predictable operating environment to plan, invest and deliver value to our customers, our shareholders, and the wider economy,” said Rijaz.

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics economic survey of 2026, the construction sector grew by 6.8% in 2025, recovering from a 0.7% contraction in 2024. This was largely driven by a revival in infrastructure, including road construction and maintenance, increased residential building activity, and stronger demand for construction materials.

With the annual housing deficit estimated at approximately 244,000 units, against a supply of fewer than 50,000 units, the scale of the opportunity for investors, and the challenge of making construction and home ownership more affordable and efficient, are equally immense.

For ABC Group, Kenya offers opportunities across residential construction, commercial development, renovation, interior design and the supply of finishing materials, particularly as the country pursues greater access to housing while managing the cost of building.

However, industry leaders say that addressing the housing challenge requires more than increasing the supply of building materials and housing units. It also requires qualified professionals, informed product selection, adherence to building standards and competent workmanship to ensure that homes and other buildings are safe, functional and durable.

“The solution to the challenges in our built environment is professionalising the sector. Developers must engage qualified professionals, follow the regulations and use the right quality materials. A good product can still fail when it is poorly installed, just as cutting corners on professional input can leave homeowners with buildings that cost more to maintain and repair. We must build with the user, safety and long-term value in mind,” said George Ndege, President of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK).

AAK is an umbrella body representing eight professions in the built environment with about 5,000 registered members, including architecture, interior design and engineering. Ndege added that one of the persistent challenges facing the sector is a lack of information among consumers and developers about the products and solutions available, as well as the suitability of materials for particular projects.

AAK has partnered with ABC Hauz, to host the latest ‘Build Hub’ co-working space where professionals including young graduates and independent practitioners can explore design possibilities, meet with clients and strengthen their professional practice.

Through the Build Hub, an AAK initiative that seeks to promote excellence in the built environment, ABC Group and AAK aim to make professional design practice and product sourcing more accessible, particularly in projects where affordability is a key consideration. It will also provide a point of information and engagement for members of the public.

“Affordable housing should not mean compromising on design or quality. Through value engineering and collaboration with qualified architects and other professionals, we want to help customers identify solutions that meet their needs and budgets. The Build Hub will provide young professionals with a place to work, collaborate and learn at no cost,” said Rijaz.

Ndege added that the industry must move beyond the assumption that affordable products are necessarily of poor quality, while also challenging developers to consider the long-term cost of poor construction decisions. A low-cost product that fails prematurely, or a good-quality product installed incorrectly, he said can increase the cost of ownership and undermine confidence in the entire construction sector.

AAK has been promoting public awareness and accountability through initiatives including ‘Mulika Mjengo’, a platform encouraging the public to report potentially unsafe construction, and its Healthy Homes Guidelines and Checklists, which help consumers understand what to look for when assessing the safety and quality of their homes.

The association is also preparing to release its ‘Status of the Built Environment Report’ in December 2026, which is expected to provide further insight into the sector and its professional and market challenges. Speaking on ABC Group’s investment plans, Muhammed Madani, Founder and Managing Director of ABC Group, said the company sees Kenya as an important market for innovation, design and the wider home-improvement industry.

“We are bringing global design experience and new-age products closer to Kenyan customers, with a focus on affordable luxury, quality and accessibility. We are also looking at the next phase of our investment, including the possibility of manufacturing in Kenya, particularly in furniture, doors and windows production. Our ambition is to contribute to the local industry, create opportunities for young people and make more innovative solutions accessible in this market,” said Madani.

The proposed approach would include developing designs locally and exploring manufacturing and assembly capabilities in Kenya in the next two years. The group also plans to expand its Kenyan experience centre in the coming months to include customised solutions across its product categories.

The launch also introduces ‘Finch’, a rewards app and portal solution intended to recognise the important role of trade professionals such as artisans and plumbers in specifying, sourcing and installing building materials. This is part of ABC Group’s wider commitment to the construction and home-improvement sector.

Victor Adar is a Nairobi-based journalist and writer for Business Today. Email: [email protected]

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