In less than a decade, Bayana Construction Limited has emerged as one of the most intriguing Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) players in East Africa. Operating across infrastructure, energy, oil & gas, and geotechnical engineering, the firm represents a new generation of engineering-led contractors – lean, technically grounded and regionally ambitious.
At the centre of this growth is MAURICE KAGWI, a Civil Engineer whose vision for Bayana began long before the company was formally registered. We sat down for an interview with the Engineer to understand what drives this robust growth.
Bayana’s story traces back to 2013, when Kagwi—then a student at the University of Nairobi—began conceptualising the business alongside Engineer Mwangi Wambugu. At the time, Wambugu was already practicing in Canada, where he still works, and the two shared a clear ambition: to build an engineering-driven company capable of addressing gaps they saw in the construction sector in their country Kenya.
“We conceptualised the company in 2013. We wanted to have a local company that is engineering owned and excellence driven,” Kagwi recalls.
Their partnership, complemented by Naftaly Wachira, an aviation engineer also based abroad, gives Bayana a distinctly global outlook. While Kagwi leads operations on the ground, the broader leadership structure brings international exposure and perspective into the company’s work—something that is increasingly valuable in complex, multidisciplinary projects.
The company itself would take shape years later. After graduating and working in industry, Kagwi left employment in 2020 to pursue the venture fully. By 2021, Bayana had begun operations, initially focusing on geotechnical investigations and medium engineering assignments.
The name “Bayana,” meaning transparency, was deliberately chosen to reflect the company’s ethos. “At Bayana, our word is our bond,” Kagwi says, emphasising a commitment to honesty in an industry often criticised for the opposite.
Engineering-Led EPC: A Deliberate Positioning
From the outset, Bayana positioned itself differently. Rather than operating as a conventional contractor, it embraced a full Engineering, Procurement and Construction model—an approach that remains relatively underdeveloped in the region.
“EPC is a relatively new concept in our country,” Kagwi explains. “Most of our contractors are only able to execute. They will not design and cost for you.”
By integrating design, engineering and construction under one roof, Bayana has been able to control project outcomes more tightly. The company runs an internal design consultancy that not only develops its own projects but also reviews and value-engineers external designs to improve buildability and cost efficiency.
Geotechnical Expertise as a Strategic Advantage
A defining feature of Bayana’s growth has been its focus on geotechnical engineering. In a market where structural failures are often linked to poor ground understanding, this capability has proven both technically and commercially valuable.
“We have seen many buildings collapse… mostly it’s because of the ground beneath them,” Kagwi notes.
The company carries out detailed ground investigations through both intrusive methods, such as drilling and sampling, and non-destructive geophysical techniques. These allow it to understand subsurface conditions before construction begins, reducing risk and optimising foundation designs.
Supporting this work is an in-house laboratory that plays a central role in both testing and design. Materials are analysed, concrete mixes are developed, pavements are designed, and environmental factors such as soil chemistry and water quality are assessed. The lab serves both internal projects and external clients, reinforcing Bayana’s position as a technical solutions provider rather than just a contractor.
A Growing Footprint in Energy and Environmental Projects
While geotechnical work laid the foundation, Bayana has expanded aggressively into energy and environmental engineering—areas that are increasingly critical across East Africa.
In Kenya, the company has been involved in the Kamburu Dam renewable energy project, where it undertook offshore geotechnical investigations. This type of work requires specialised equipment and expertise, particularly in water-based environments, and reflects the company’s growing technical capacity.
Bayana has also played a role in the country’s emerging waste-to-energy initiatives. It has conducted feasibility studies and technical investigations aimed at converting urban waste into energy, particularly in Nairobi. Beyond the capital, the company has investigated multiple dump sites across Nakuru, Eldoret, Naivasha, Kisumu and Mombasa, contributing to efforts to transform waste management into a viable energy resource.
“We have investigated dump sites because the government is now exploring extraction of energy from most of this waste,” Kagwi explains.
The company has also played a role in Kenya Pipeline Company infrastructure, including Pump Station No. 22 in Maai Mahiu, where it undertook critical geotechnical investigations as part of the project. This type of work, though often behind the scenes, is essential in ensuring the long-term stability and safety of such installations.
In another technically demanding assignment, Bayana is working with a Finnish partner to install weather monitoring systems across Kenya. The project involves the installation of radar systems and sensors at key locations including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Malindi, Eldoret and Garissa, with over 30 installations planned nationwide. While these systems support aviation safety, their significance extends further into agriculture and climate monitoring.
“It is not only for improving aviation – even for farming and agriculture,” Kagwi says, highlighting the broader developmental impact.
Oil and Gas: Entering a Complex Engineering Space
Regionally, Bayana has established a strong presence in oil and gas, particularly in the Horn of Africa with projects in Somaliland and Djibouti. This regional exposure has allowed the company to build experience in diverse operating environments while positioning itself as a cross-border EPC player.
Oil & Gas, with its high technical demands and strict safety requirements, has become one of the company’s defining areas of expertise.
“It is a heavy engineering field,” Kagwi explains. “It involves electrical engineers, mechanical engineers and civil engineers working together.”
He emphasises that these projects require close coordination between multiple disciplines, including civil, mechanical and electrical engineering. Civil engineers handle structural components, pipelines and foundations, while mechanical and electrical engineers deal with pressure systems, automation and pipelines. What sets these projects apart is their sensitivity.
“Such a project requires high level coordination skills. It also requires good know-how,” Kagwi says. “The installations we are installing are very sensitive. Even inertia and movement can affect their functionality.”
This emphasis on precision and coordination highlights why relatively few contractors are able to operate effectively in this space.
The company has been involved in the development of oil and gas terminals in Somaliland, including work linked to the Berbera Port and the East Oil and Gas Terminal. These projects span feasibility, design, and construction, demonstrating Bayana’s ability to operate across the full EPC lifecycle.
“They are now selling gas to Ethiopia, Somalia and Somaliland,” Kagwi notes. “We have helped them come up with those facilities.”
Balancing Technical Work with Social Impact
Alongside large-scale engineering projects, Bayana has maintained a presence in community-focused infrastructure. It has delivered schools and hospitals in partnership with organisations such as the Safaricom Foundation and faith-based institutions, and is currently involved in the construction of Ilchalai Primary School in Kajiado.
“We are very interested in society-transforming projects,” Kagwi says, pointing to a deliberate effort to balance commercial and social impact work.
Growth Through Trust and Delivery
Despite its rapid expansion, Bayana’s growth has been largely organic. Much of its work comes through referrals, with satisfied clients introducing the company to new opportunities. “Those that we work with always refer us,” Kagwi says. “We have always delivered on time, on budget.”
This reputation for reliability has been reinforced by the company’s ISO 9001:2015 certification, achieved in 2025, which formalises its internal quality management systems.
Regional Expansion and the Reality of Doing Business in Africa
Operating across borders has opened up opportunities, but it has also exposed structural challenges within the region. “The challenges are the African challenges,” Kagwi says, pointing to logistics, trade barriers and high transport costs. “Sometimes it is cheaper to go to trade with Malaysia and China than with your neighbour here.”
Difficulties in moving equipment, importing materials and navigating fragmented markets continue to affect project delivery. Mobilising teams to project sites often involves high travel costs and complex coordination.
Relocating equipment presents an even bigger challenge. In some cases, equipment cannot be moved by road due to security concerns, forcing companies to rely on expensive and often unreliable shipping routes.
“When the project is over, you have to ship equipment back,” Kagwi explains. “You cannot use the road network and shipping is very expensive.”
These constraints, combined with trade barriers and limited regional supply chains, significantly increase the cost and complexity of delivering projects across Africa. Yet Bayana remains committed to expanding into emerging markets, including countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Kagwi plans to explore in a few months.
“If we all avoid them, then there’s no one to grow them. Challenges we face are our opportunities for growth,” he argues.
Looking Ahead: Testing, NDT and Technical Depth
As it looks to the future, Bayana is investing heavily in strengthening its technical capabilities. The company aims to become a regional centre for advanced material testing and non-destructive testing (NDT), extending its expertise beyond civil engineering into sectors such as aviation and petrochemicals.
“We want to become the centre of testing excellence in the region,” Kagwi says.
At the same time, it is expanding into specialised areas such as deep foundations, excavation support and offshore engineering, positioning itself for increasingly complex projects. Bayana Construction Limited’s rise reflects a broader shift in the construction industry – one where engineering expertise, integrated delivery and technical credibility are becoming key differentiators.
For Kagwi, the principle behind the company’s growth remains straightforward. “When clients know you understand what you are talking about, they give you trust.”
In a sector where execution ultimately defines success, that trust has become the foundation on which Bayana continues to build.
 players in East Africa. Operating across infrastructure, energy, oil & gas, and geotechnical engineering, the firm represents a new generation of engineering-led contractors - lean, technically grounded and regionally ambitious.){kind=link}