The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has warned of substandard cement that is increasingly circulating in the Kenyan market.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 28, the IEK President, Shammah Kiteme, claims that the circulating substandard cement is from several brands and even bears the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) mark.
The engineers, according to Kiteme, have documented a 25 per cent reduction in the strength of concrete prepared with the substandard cement, which not only undermines the durability and strength of buildings but also compromises public safety due to the risk of building collapse.
"Kenyans have, over time, been concerned by the reports of collapsing buildings and compromised infrastructure across the country. IEK notes with concern the worrying trend of the prevalence of substandard cement in the market," Kiteme stated.
"Cement is the binder in concrete. It is a key chemical component that hydrates in the mixture of fine and coarse aggregates, and once it sets, it creates strong structures after curing and hardening. When cement is compromised, life and property are directly at risk from compromised structural integrity," he added.
IEK has urged KEBS to kickstart a random independent cement sampling across hardware stores and distribution points in the country to verify the quality of cement in the market.
"We urge the relevant regulatory authorities to intensify market surveillance and spot checks across the country to stamp out this malpractice," Kiteme said.
Additionally, the institution claims that hardware and retail outlets have developed a trend of selling underweight cement, which they note contravenes the consumer rights of a customer.
Kiteme has urged KEBS to conduct mandatory weight verification procedures on cement before it is sold to stores and penalise distribution outlets that are non-compliant.
"Further compounding the issue is the widespread sale of underweight cement, especially in hardware stores and retail outlets. Cement bags marked as 50kg have been found to weigh significantly less, some as low as 45kg, shortchanging clients. This fraudulent practice is a violation of consumer rights," he said.
IEK has further urged law enforcement agencies to take action against public officials and private sector players who are facilitating the sale of substandard building materials in the country.
"We urge the relevant regulatory authorities to intensify market surveillance and spot checks across the country to stamp out this malpractice," IEK said.
