2023 Predictions: The Construction and Real Estate Edition

It is a new year once again and as usual, we are all hoping for great things to unfold while simultaneously reverting to old habits and routines.?The good thing is that January presents an opportunity to reflect on the previous year while setting expectations for the new one. 2022 had plenty of activities coming from the construction industry as the sector set out to recover from covid implications.

We have listed some of the issues faced last year and remedies we can anticipate in the coming months. We acknowledge that the construction industry in Kenya is a dynamic space that can change for the better.?

Engaging Consultants

We anticipate that clients will hire professionals even for seemingly mundane tasks such as due diligence during land buying. This may seem like a doable task, but involving professionals reduces the possibility of exploitation.

The client must understand the different roles undertaken by construction professionals and the value they provide. Developers and individual clients should hire all the relevant professionals for their construction projects regardless of the size of the building.?It's about time people learnt that saving on consultants' fees becomes expensive due to the possible risks.

Proper planning and Design?

2022 had beautiful apartment complexes completed with external surfaces composed of only cabro flooring and concreted surfaces. The site lacks sensory appeal and robs people of the places to interact with nature.?Moving forward, more resources should be invested in landscape design and the general aesthetics of external surfaces to reduce the non-appealing rigid concrete look.?

Secondly, after the unfortunate news of faulty buildings collapsing, we anticipate that the Government will put in place policies and regulations to reduce malpractice and ensure quality work. Activities such as construction audits and regular training should be the norm, and dire consequences should be faced if any lives are lost or injured due to professional misconduct.

Furthermore, we have seen significant roads getting constructed and once completed, the design flaws have been hard to miss, e.g. the non-existent pedestrian paths along the expressway, little to no communication on new or closed routes and illegible signs. We expect proper planning and design that focuses on the welfare of pedestrians, repairing any damages caused during construction and maybe (if we are getting ambitious) some work to be conducted at night to reduce traffic during the day.

Sustainability

Investing in sustainability provides vast opportunities and benefits as it encompasses the needs of the people, planet and results to profit. At the rate of climate change, the world needs to move fast in embracing climate mitigation and adaptation.?We hope that individuals, corporations and the Government will not only inquire about sustainable technology and how to incorporate it into our day-to-day lives but make it a vital part of development.

As for the industry, more conversations on sustainable concrete, waste management,?healthy building designs, and affordability should be held, giving insights into what can be adopted in the country and what technologies need to be abandoned. Professionals should be open to experimentation and letting go of ancient technologies.

Gender Empowerment?

Construction has continuously been male-dominated due to its demand for physical strength and other risks. However, there has been an increased interest in the industry by women who continue to challenge the narrative that construction is a man's job. We have seen organisations invest in equipping women with the necessary skills to undertake different roles in the construction industry. We believe this number will grow over the years through actively addressing the bias faced by women as they seek to join the industry.