Africa-Press – Kenya. This year’s Big 5 Construct Kenya attracted at least 9,637 construction professionals alongside more than 120 exhibiting brands from over 20 countries.
According to the organisers, the 8th edition of the expo aligns with the significant growth in Kenya’s construction sector, which contributes over 6.14% to GDP as per official data supported by investments in transport, housing and public infrastructure under Vision 2030.
The exhibition floor featured tools, materials, interiors, smart solutions, finishes, concrete, MEP, construction technology and more, showcasing both regional suppliers and international leaders across the industry.
“We’ve seen exceptional turnout across all three days.
It’s clear that Big 5 Construct Kenya continues to offer real value for the industry.
We look forward to returning next year and building on this momentum with the industry,” said Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice President, dmg events
Exhibitors engaged directly with developers, contractors, consultants, project managers, engineers and government leaders to support sourcing, procurement and project fulfilment.
This year’s edition brought together a diverse exhibitor base, representing well-established brands, new market entrants and solution providers.
Exhibitors from over 20 countries, including India, Egypt, Germany, Italy, China and the United Arab Emirates, among others.
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The Egypt Pavilion at Big 5 Construct Kenya attracted strong interest from international visitors and local industry stakeholders, with the Trade Representative Office in Nairobi facilitating visits from Kenyan business delegations to meet Egyptian companies and explore direct partnerships.
Several bilateral meetings were arranged with leading Kenyan real estate developers, contractors and major building materials importers, reflecting the Pavilion’s role as a meeting point for strengthening trade links.
Egypt’s participation underscored the growing commercial exchange between the two countries, with Egyptian exports to Kenya reaching $333.1 million in 2024 and continued opportunities for collaboration in construction and infrastructure projects.
During the event speakers delivered practical knowledge sharing across project management, technology, engineering, architecture and design, and sustainability.
In a session on ‘Managing risk and equipping construction projects for resilient delivery,’ Edwin Were Okall, Project Manager, Construction & Real Estate Development and Building Technologist, PMI Kenya Chapter, talked about identifying and quantifying construction risks across regulatory, financial and environmental silos, alongside contingency planning and contract clauses.
He spoke on incorporating insurance and dispute resolution to protect high-value sites.
David Ngare, Building Management Engineer at Trade and Development Bank (TDB), led a technical case study on ‘Managing safety and compliance in construction projects’ and discussed best practice in safety management on-site, regulatory compliance challenges and enforcement.
He also spoke on safety culture and training in construction teams.
Grace Githii, Project Manager at Turner & Townsend, focused on behavioural enablers of digital adoption.
In her session, titled, ‘Digital transformation starts with us,’ Githii discussed the importance of people-led innovation and the role of collaboration and data in smarter project decisions.
Another high-attendance panel focused on smart construction technologies such as drones, IoT and robotics, moderated by Titus Munene, Structural Engineer & BIM Modeller, Pleng.
The panel featured Morekwa Jenks Kemunto, Civil and Structural Engineer, Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development; Onditi Robert Bobbie, Senior Project Manager, Lordship Africa; and Samuel Muriuki Mwangi, Founder, Orbital BIM Solutions.
Speakers explored real-world applications and the return on investment of smart technology on Kenyan sites; safety, data collection and project monitoring enhancements; and the barriers to adoption and scaling.
