These are the guys on the ground hakuna formalities they do the actual job with their "watu wa mkono". Wambua and Mungai can be contacted as follows: Wambua 0710194072 and Mungai is 0717930991.

My foundation of 180SqM cost about 450k incl. 105k for labour.
Slab 750k incl 160k Labour (thats if you hire the trappers rather than buy them). Roofing - ongoing.

Also note that youll need maybe some 200k for pre works. I.e water tank, road access some clearing etc.

this is the best thread ever!! Such a wealth of knowledge! *Hat Tip @ Pablo and other contributors*

Wow!! for the first time i have read a thread reply by reply. @Pablo that's a big heart you got man! God Bless you.

@All...let's also not critisize Architect. At least he replied..

.Doing 2nd floor slab and can't believe the savings on mbao, props and trappers. The later are for hire @100 per piece for 40 days and I can't regret a thing. . Now the electricals and plumbing issues to sort, got this KPLC technician "engineer" as they call him doing the cabling for 12k, the cables etc cost abt 30k, plumber asks for 4k. NB: The plumber plus electrician will oversee the koroga process to secure their works!

Thanks a lot Pablo and all other Wazua contributors. But I have one question...when you say the cost of construction is 25k /m2, does it apply for both bungallo and maisonette? Secondly, what would be cheaper to consruct between a 4 b/room bungalow and a 4 b/room maisonette and what would be price different? I would appreciate feedback on this

Thanks all for this great discussion..especially Pablo. I have a few questions..maybe Pablo can help.
I am working in Europe and i have noticed a few things as far as construction of houses is concerned. Been wondering if these ideas can reduce costs and if they can work back home. I am not an engineer so bear with my layman explanations.

1. No one uses stones anymore..All buildings even highrise apartment blocks use fired red clay bricks which are the same size as our stones (i think 6X9). How come we don't use this technology in Kenya?
2. I have noticed that the slabs for upper floors are quite thin and not as thick as back home..i assume its because the bricks are lighter since they are hollow..Again,i assume this would save a lot of cash.
3. The plaster that is used both on the outside and inside is already mixed with paint. Therefore as u plaster u are also painting. Do we have such cement products at home?

Over to you guys..

There are other ideas but first lets discuss these 3.

@real cindano..
I am in Eastern Europe where the economies are comparable to Kenya..if not even worse than Kenya..Yet apartments are cheaper here!!! Let me give you a real case of some apartments being built close to where i live..they are going for 760 Euros per m2..and the sizes vary from 33 to 125m2..at an exch rate of 100 Kshs per Euro that is Kshs2.5m for 1 bedroom to Kshs 9.5m for the 3 bedroom!!
You should see the finishing!!!
Laminate floor for sitting room and bedrooms, tiles for the rest of the house, central heating, PVC windows, Security (Steel) Doors, Granite (or is it marble??) covered stairscases, lift for 7pax, underground parking,
By the way, the 760 Euros per m2 is for ground, 1st, 2nd and i think 3rd floor..from 4th floor it gets cheaper..
So why are our apartments so expensive!!

Thank you guys. I wanted to start constructing a simple house in Kahawa. Who knows a good and honest fundi those sides

I have been constructing for the last 3 years on several fronts, houses, water tanks and those quotes of Kshs25k per sq m are not real. They are too high. I just did a floor of 360square meters and the numbers were nowhere near there.