THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN KENYA IN AN ELECTIONEERING PERIOD.
Stephen Wanga • July 6, 2021
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The construction industry in Kenya is one that was hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Sites were shut down abruptly, some of the highly skilled workers relocated to the rural areas after long periods of joblessness and never came back. Delivery periods and finances for projects had to be adjusted. Some projects just died. There are many challenges, all over the world, that can be mentioned within this Covid-19 pandemic times.
Having been economically affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, I narrowed it down to our construction industry in Kenya. We are heading to an electioneering period in August next year. Those of us who have been in Kenya during an election where the sitting president cannot vie for the seat, know how heated the political season normally is. As many countries are recovering from the effects of the pandemic, Kenya is heading to another "electoral pandemic'. I pose a question, " How prepared is the construction industry?"
In the lift industry where I serve, we are a worried lot. We see projects that will need elevator projects next year. In my estimation, any lift project that will not have been ordered by April next year will incur higher costs. This is mainly due to the foreign exchange market in Kenya where I foresee the Kenya shilling trading poorly against the American dollar and the dynamics of inland transportation and safety at that time. As a result, the cost of undertaking projects will rise sharply as contractors will have to insure most of the construction projects and related materials. I trust my fears resonated with the fears of many construction industry players in Kenya.
What advice do project managers give to real estate developers in Kenya concerning the above? I am not an expert in project management. However, I advice my clients to purchase what they will need prior to April next year. This will mean make any imports early, get a safe storage facility and insure your goods. This will save you a dime!
Stephen Wanga, Technical Director, Stevens Elevator Ltd, Nairobi, Kenya.
Almost everything gets old or obsolete. In our recent times, there is rapid technological development in almost every industrial sector. We wake up every morning only to find an updated version of what we purchased yesterday. Allow me to focus on matters elevators for the purpose of precision. Many of us have walked into old buildings and noticed the old elevators still in operation or some have been put out of use. In some cases, the old elevators are a vintage as they bring out the old designs which are more often strong and have the artistic touch of the old age. When are called in to replace these lifts and for sure we do it with some guilt. With guilt look at the robust mechanical designs and the artistic engravings on the lift, but we have to obey the clients will. So what determines the decision to replace the lift or to modernize the lift? Modernization of a lift is a partial replacement of elevator components with new and modern technological designs and features. Lift replacement is actually removing the old lift completely and installing a new elevator in its place. With this understanding, let us look at why replace and not modernize an elevator. Total replacement of a lift is more often the easiest and less costly option to the service provider. This is so because the new lift will come whole and the installation would be faster and the results will be accurate. However, the mechanical quality is often not the same as the old design due to lighter material gauge used in manufacturing. The new lift will have better ride comfort and with modern features that match the desires of our present generation. Of course their controls would be more digital and power consumption would be very low due to the regenerative drives incorporated in the new designs. On the other hand, chances are very high that the cost of maintenance may be slightly high as the rate of wear and tear in these lifts tend to be high. This is mainly due to components not being robust and unable to withstand power surges or commonly by manufacturers design. Looking at modernization of a lift, it is a tedious task for the service provider especially if the elevator is from another manufacturer. Secondly, the technical personnel may not have a good understanding of the discreet electrical and electronic components and how to match the current technology to the old one. The manufacturer may give the drawings and instructions but the technicians are expected to apply some lateral thinking to make it work. This unfortunately is wanting in our current crop of engineering practitioners. This is one of the reasons most service providers would not go for modernization but have the lift replaced. The cost of modernization from the client perspective is a lot more cheaper. In most cases only the electrical components are replaced. The cabin, the doors, the motor, and many mechanical parts remain. The mechanical strength of the lift remains intact. Therefore, in our opinion, the decision to modernize or replace has to be made based on the following: 1. Are the spares for the old lift available or are obsolete? If the spares are available, then the maintenance skills are the problem and needs to be checked. If the spares are obsolete then modernize the lift. 2.The cost of maintenance has gone high. In the event that the cost of spares or electricity consumption is high then analyze the real course and go for a replacement of the lift. However, the old lifts are usually not spare-guzzlers but may be consuming more power. 3.Efficiency and ride comfort. Most old elevators do not have a better ride comfort especially when taking off or stopping. The old design did not have what we call dynamic braking and hence they would stop as if it were an emergency brake applied. If you consider this you can either modernize or replace the lift. 4. Higher speeds and improved safety features. The modern lift can manage higher speeds comfortably due to enhanced safety features. However, this does not mean the old lifts are unsafe. The higher the speed the higher and effective the safety features must be. Well, these are just a few reasons though one would have more. In our opinion, the decision either to modernize or replace the lift should be made based on facts and not trends. The bottom-line is the serviceability of any lift depends on the availability of spares and the technical prowess of the service provider. We have lifts almost 100 years and still running perfectly and on the other hand we have lifts less than a decade old that are now down. Written by: Stephen Wanga, Technical Director, Rhine Elevators Ltd.
