New deal to put an end to buildings’ collapse in Kenya

Cement manufacturer Bamburi Cement and National Construction Authority (NCA) have signed a deal to train 1.5 million construction experts in a move aimed at curtailing frequent cases of building’s collapsing.

The deal, announced Monday will see the two companies collaborate in developing a curriculum for training of construction site staff and contractors in the country to improve skills and competencies in the building and construction industry as well as bridging the skills gap in the sector.

“This agreement is born out of our shared objectives of improving quality standards in the industry,” said Geoffrey Ndugwa, Commercial Director Bamburi Cement, adding that a joint training session would be formulated to accommodate certify qualified workers and site supervisors in Kenya.

This comes in the wake of increasing cases in the number of incidences of poorly built structures.

NCA has pledged to train and accredit 1,500,000 skilled construction workers in various trades in the construction sector.

Under the agreement, Bamburi will also avail its Mobile Concrete Laboratories to NCA for use around construction sites in the country. The Mobile Labs conduct on-site testing of materials and also offer technical advice.

Through its program dubbed ‘Builder’s Academy’, rolled out twelve years ago, Bamburi has been training masons on site planning, drawings, setting out and foundations, mix designs, causes of building defects and how to avoid them as well as on-site safety procedures.