Construction Industry
Tackling The Issue Of Substandard Steel Products In Kenya ' s Construction Industry
By Jane Ndungo
Every day , Kenyans face critical decisions regarding the purchase of goods , from balancing cost and quality to choosing between imported and locally manufactured products . At the policy level , there is a delicate balance between promoting industrialization and ensuring the availability of high-quality goods and services at affordable prices . The ultimate goal is to provide consumers with the best quality products at competitive prices , supported by world-class service .
However , the infiltration of substandard products across various sectors , including steel , compromises this goal . The steel sector in Kenya , particularly , has been significantly affected by the influx of substandard products , from roofing sheets to pipes and tubes . This poses a serious threat to all the parties in the industry . The consumer gets a substandard product that falls short of the promised quality against the anticipated value for money . The manufacturer loses the return on investment in the manufacturing facilities while the contractor compromises on the delivery of high-quality residential , commercial , and industrial projects .
Understanding Substandard Products
Substandard products are items that fail to meet the required quality benchmarks set by national regulatory bodies like the Kenya Bureau of Standards ( KEBS ) and other similar bodies from other countries . In the steel sector , for example , roofing sheets are deemed substandard when they do not comply with specifications regarding metal coating mass , paint thickness , and product identification markings . Compromising on these requirements results in products that do not meet consumer expectations and performance standards .
Identifying Substandard Roofing Sheets
Substandard roofing sheets exhibit several defects : the paint peels off , leaving unevenly coloured stripes of varying shades ; sheets are easily damaged during transport and installation , leading to leaking roofs ; and sheets made from Aluminium Zinc or Galvanized Zinc coating rust earlier than expected .
The Impact of Installing Substandard Roofing Sheets
Using substandard roofing sheets forces consumers to either live with a deteriorating roof or incur additional expenses to replace it . Both scenarios result in wasted time and money . Moreover , the reputation of stakeholders throughout the supply chain is damaged , from installers to manufacturers .
Compliant players , who invest heavily in meeting high compliance costs , suffer as their market share is unfairly taken over by inferior and sub-standard products . This results in reduced domestic production , potential closures of factories and other related businesses , job losses , and decreased government revenues from corporate tax , PAYE , and VAT . Consequently , the quality of products and project outcomes deteriorate , leading to cost overruns and delayed completions .
Allowing substandard roofing sheets to dominate the market undermines fair trade practices , distorts market dynamics , and perpetuates the misconception that imported products are cheaper than locally manufactured ones . This diminishes Kenya ' s attractiveness as an investment destination , shifting the country from industrialization to a trading nation and losing the inherent benefits of industrialization .
Preserving Kenya ' s Manufacturing Hub
For Kenya to maintain its strategic position as a manufacturing hub for steel products , government authorities must enforce quality standards in the market . Challenges such as non-conforming substrate coating mass and substandard paints require enhanced and continuous monitoring and enforcement . The steel industry expects enforcement bodies to confiscate and eliminate substandard goods , penalize non-compliant importers , and hold accountable third-party inspection agencies complicit in passing non-conforming materials .
The steel sector is a critical driver of development in Kenya . Urgent action is needed to tackle the challenge of substandard steel products to safeguard multiple sectors from negative impacts . Coordinated action from regulatory bodies , industry stakeholders , and consumers is essential .
By upholding quality standards and promoting local manufacturing , Kenya can foster sustainable industrialization , protect consumers , create more jobs , reduce imports , and boost government revenues .
Jane Ndungo is the External Affairs Manager , East Africa , at Safal Group . You can commune with her on this or related issues via mail at : Jane . Ndungo @ safalgroup . com
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