Inadequacy of production of building materials in Kenya

Abstract

Many construction industries in developing countries are said to experience serious difficulties in - their operations, with inadequate supply of building materials ranking high in the list of ills. In Kenya. over the years, the industry has also experienced a fair share of problems which have included shortages and at times complete disappearance of certain building materials. Shortages of building materials are not desirable as they can lead to disruptions in building programmes and at times complete abandonment of projects. The main objective of the study was therefore to investigate the cause of the building materials industry's inability to satisfy demand placed on it. Descriptive survey me thou formed the basis of the study. The study was thus approached in two ways. Through library research, in chapters one and two, the study analyzed and discussed the structure. organization and the market forces that form and create the economic environment upon which the industry operates. This analysis whilst providing a theoretical background for the study also conceived a moue!that exposed the amenability or the industry to targeting by national development planners. The aforementioned exercise also took into consideration the significant role played by the industry in socio-economic development and welfare of the nation . . The second objective of the study involved the examination of the effect of the existing government policies, regulations and the implementing institutions on the industry's activities against the generally y expressed goals of the policies. This objective was carried out by the use of questionnaires served to building materials manufacturing firms. The aim was to obtain firsthand information and experiences of the manufacturers on the problems beleaguering their operations. Chapter four of the study thus contained the analysis of the data emanating from the field survey together with a brief summary of observations derived from literature reviewed, Chapter five. the last in the study, contained the conclusions and recommendations of the entire work. The study thus concluded that, a general lack of appreciation of what building materials industry imports as an economic sub sector, by economists and development planners has resulted into policies and administrative machinery that are insensitive to the problems experienced by manufacturers in the sector.