Cement, rebars and boards listed among most counterfeited building materials

Cement, electrical cables and particle boards are some of the most counterfeited products in the building industry, as a new report reveals low awareness of these forged materials among consumers.

The Consumer Level Survey Report 2025 by the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) lists cement and its affiliated products as the most counterfeited products in the building and construction industry.

Concrete paving blocks and clay roofing tiles also fall into the same category.

“A large majority of respondents (76.72 per cent) reported encountering counterfeit cement, concrete paving blocks, clay roofing tiles, and other cement-manufactured products,” the report says.

It adds that issues to do with steel and iron sheet (59.54 per cent), ballast, quarry machine cut stones (44.27 per cent), and pipes (polypropylene copolymer, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene pipes) 26.72 per cent are also prominent.

“Only 1.53 per cent of respondents raised concerns about unspecified products, indicating that counterfeiting primarily affects commonly used construction materials, the report says. Flat and reinforcement bars (rebar) have also been highlighted in the report, which analyses levels of awareness of counterfeit products across 16 sectors.

The report says the presence of counterfeit construction materials not only undermines legitimate businesses, leading to financial losses and reduced market trust, but also poses serious safety risks.

“Counterfeit products can compromise the structural integrity of buildings and infrastructure, leading to potential hazards for occupants,” it says.

To address this issue, the report recommends that stronger enforcement mechanisms and regulatory frameworks are needed, even as it references the findings, adding that it points to a gap in consumer education.

It adds that there is a need for comprehensive policies that focus on raising awareness, improving market surveillance, and imposing stricter penalties on counterfeiters.

“Effective policy formulation should involve collaboration between government agencies, industry stakeholders, and consumers to create a robust system for monitoring and reporting counterfeit construction products,” the report says.

Just a month ago, the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) raised concerns over substandard cement in the market.

“Our members have documented up to 25 per cent reduction in the comprehensive strength of concrete prepared from cement of several brands,” said the President of IEK Eng Shammah Kiteme.

Built environment

Kiteme described the finding as a grave threat to public safety, adding that the built environment must meet certain performance thresholds to withstand both everyday use and natural shocks.

“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,” he said.

“When cement is compromised, then life and property are directly at risk from compromised structural integrity.”

The challenges with cement, noted Eng Kiteme in the May 28, 2025, statement, extend to underweight packaging.

“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.

Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Works Joel Arumonyang said infiltration of counterfeit products in the construction sector compromises the investment of investors who have followed the law.

He said the State Department has consulted widely with the regulatory bodies to seal the loopholes that facilitate counterfeit products.

“As the State Department in charge of standards, we emphasise that Kenyans need quality. They need value for money and we are not ready to entertain counterfeiting,” said the PS during an event by Basco Paints where they launched a tech-developed waterproof external paint.

Basco Paints Managing Director Kamlesh Shah said it is very difficult to counter counterfeits. “Sometimes we suspect there is formalisation for the whole structure of counterfeits where we are just not able to stop,” he said. “As a manufacturer, we urge our consumers to buy from the right kind of suppliers and reputable outlets.”

Paint is also among the products highlighted in the report, vulnerable to counterfeits under the chemical and allied sector.

“The survey revealed that paints and resins are the most counterfeited products, with 64.39 per cent of respondents identifying them,” the report says.

According to the findings by the ACA, of the 16 sectors analysed, the level of awareness of counterfeit products is ranked lower in real estate-related fields when compared to others.

For example, awareness of counterfeits in agricultural inputs and agrochemicals stands at 39.52 per cent when compared to 11.69 per cent for building and construction and 5.13 for timber, wood and furniture.

Awareness in the metal and allied sector stands at 6.74 per cent, while energy, electrical and electronics is 32.52 per cent. The report says the energy, electrical, and electronics sector faces significant counterfeiting challenges, posing serious risks to both consumer safety and market integrity.

The report cites energy generators and solar panels among the commonly counterfeited products in the energy, electrical and electronics sector.

This leads to potential failures in power generation. “Electric cables and wires were highlighted by 29.08 per cent of respondents, raising serious concerns about safety risks such as electrical fires,” the report says.

In the metal and allied sector, a supporting sector to construction, the highest percentage of counterfeiting was noted in smelting and hot rolling products such as reinforcement bars and flat bars. This accounted for 65.56 per cent of responses.

“Cold rolling products, particularly those involving sheet colour coating, followed closely at 60.26 per cent. Similarly, wire product converters (including nails, bolts, and welding rods) represented 56.29 per cent of counterfeit items,” the report says. “These categories highlight significant risks in construction and manufacturing materials.”

The report cites other categories, such as steel-fabricated products (45.03 per cent) and aluminium products (44.37 per cent), which also exhibit substantial counterfeiting.

“These findings underscore the need for heightened vigilance and stronger regulatory measures to combat counterfeiting in the metal and allied sector, particularly for essential materials used in construction and infrastructure projects,” the report says.

In the timber, wood and furniture sector, the report lists particle boards, used to make cabinets, among the counterfeited materials. This accounts for 79.13 per cent of reported cases.

“Wooden building materials, such as windows, doors, door frames, and plywood, also show high levels of counterfeiting at 75.65 per cent,” the report says.