Chinese firm to open construction materials “supermarket” in Kenya

A Chinese company is rushing to complete a precast concrete factory in Kenya to supply ready-made elements for residential construction.

The company, China Wu Yi (Kenya) Precast, claims it will revolutionise construction in the African country.

Its deputy general manager Lin Yihua said his company has invested $100m to set up its three-storey "supermarket for construction materials" that opens this year on the outskirts of the capital, Nairobi, state news agency Xinhua reports.

Lin called the facility a "modern building industry hub" that will carry out manufacturing, research and demonstration of construction materials.

The factory will produce interior wall panels, slabs and beams, columns and stair cases for apartment buildings.

The factory will start selling precast elements in July, Lin told reporters.

China Wu Yi (Kenya) Precast Company Limited was incorporated in August last year and aims to "revolutionise the real estate sector in Kenya and the wider eastern African region through adoption of precast technologies to construct houses", Xinhua reported.

"The technology is currently evolving and we are keen to introduce it to Kenya and other African countries. High quality, cheaper and environmentally friendly construction materials will fuel Kenya’s growth," said Lin.

Image from Softkenya.com