http://www.a4architect.c...-housing-in-kenya-2013/

The major suppliers of prefab panels in Nairobi, Elsek, Hong Kong ceramics, Inesa, National Housing Corporation, and Prime ventures intl, all have cost per m2 in the kes 1800 per m2 range.

Walling using stone then plastering on one side costs kes 1600 on average, and will last longer if well built.
http://www.a4architect.c...alling-in-nairobi-kenya/

@mawinder. The Yaya parking is prefabricated structural concrete. This is the normal concrete with the difference being that its made elsewhere and transported to the site and bolted together.

Butterfly properties, located in Ruiru, have the mouldings to produce this and use ift on their construction projects around Ruiru.

Westgate also looks like it was made using concrete structural prefab panels.

A more modern method of construction is the pre engineered building made of steel eg the building at Hurlingham near the new bypass roundabout near yaya.

Also, the car park at international casino, near museum was built this way many years ago.

Not quite. West gate floors were made of flat slabs cast insitu. The floor slabs are carried directly on columns without beams.

@Arch....The exterior walling at Westgate has developed a series of structural cracks all round so I doubt its made from precast concrete panels. Indeed even before the terrorist attack, these cracks were under repair. That explains the scaffolding you were seeing on TV during the attack.

Between the wing that collapsed and the one that remained standing, there was an expansion joint and I cant state for a fact that the wallings on either side of this expansion joint are masonry.

@Arch... As I earlier stated, at this juncture am unable to confirm on the exterior walling material but suffice to say that I don't expect precast concrete panels to develop cracks.

But I need to add that the cracks are appearing on all elevations except the frontage.

Cheers bwana @arch!