According to the National Construction Authority (NCA), Kenya has over 70,000 building contractors. With such a huge number, it is no surprise that the industry is characterized by intense competition for the limited jobs available.
In order to sustain their business over the long term, contractors must demonstrate exceptional professionalism, deliver high-quality work, inspire trust, and possess sufficient capacity. Consequently, only a select few companies in the country meet these criteria and manage to thrive in the industry.
Laxmanbhai Construction Limited is indisputably among the few companies that have shrugged off industry challenges to become one of the most consequential players in the building and construction industry in Kenya.
For seven decades, the company has traversed the industry like a colossus leaving its signature on some of the most iconic buildings in Kenya.
In fact, Managing Director Mr Manji Kanji Raghwani does not blink when he asserts the company has no equal. “Our legacy is unrivaled,” he says. He adds that over the years, the company has managed to remain a force to reckon with due to adherence to the core principles of its founders, namely professionalism, honesty and integrity. Anchoring on the three, coupled with commitment to complete projects without cost or time overruns and to the satisfaction of clients and consultants, has seen Laxmanbhai become the first-choice contractor in many projects, including those with project value running into billions of shillings.
Established in 1953 by Laxmanbhai Bhimji K. Raghwani, Laxmanbhai Construction Limited is among the few construction companies founded before Kenya attained independence that not only managed to survive the transition to self-rule but also achieved monumental growth. Notably, the company is synonymous with Kenya’s developmental journey, having been involved in key projects in every defining historical moment of the country.
Commitment to Excellence
“Wherever we work, our clients and consultants value our trademark commitment to excellence, quality, innovation, sustainability and safety,” explains Mr Manji Raghwani. He adds that the company has built a reputation of deploying its full range of expertise and collaborating with both clients and consultants to deliver successful projects that consistently set new benchmarks in the construction industry.
That Laxmanbhai takes pride in delivering unparalleled, high-quality workmanship and services, and is determined to consistently exceed the expectations of the industry is evident. Unlike many contractors, the company has invested heavily in personnel, equipment and machinery. The contractor believes that in order to be able to serve clients effectively and finish projects on time, investment in new and modern equipment is inevitable.
State-of-the-art Equipment
“To deliver quality projects you must be in a position to mobilize the appropriate equipment. This is why we have an arsenal of equipment for every kind of project,” states Mr Manji. He adds that the company’s portfolio of equipment includes specialized concrete pumps, concrete batching plants, earth movers, trucks, excavators, tower cranes, mobile cranes and slip-form equipment, welding machines, hydraulic breakers, air compressors and generators that allow the company to offer tailored and continuous on-site service across the country.
While assembling the necessary equipment is critical, having the right personnel is paramount. According to Mr Manji, the success of Laxmanbhai is to a high degree a result of dedicated staff from the top management to the lowest cadre. The commitment of the company to treat employees as valued assets has paid off handsomely particularly when it comes to project delivery. “In this industry you need a team that is committed and motivated,” he asserts, adding that employees play a major role in ensuring projects are delivered on time and on budget. They are even more important in massive projects where coordination and seamless working is critically needed to guarantee that projects meet the expectations of clients.
It is for this reason that Laxmanbhai has become a powerhouse construction company in Kenya where for decades it has served clients with an honest, reliable performance and a customer-first attitude. This is evident from the overflowing basket of iconic, breathtaking and trailblazing projects the company has undertaken. The projects, which cut across commercial and office buildings, hotels, schools/common buildings, public buildings, residential and apartments to interior fit-outs and partition works, are a testament of Laxmanbhai’s ability to deliver on its promises.
All Clients Treated Equally
For the company, which has implemented projects with a price tag as high as KSh4.9 billion and as low as KSh2 million, theirs is no distinction in terms of project delivery. “All clients are valuable to us and we aim to deliver to the expectations of each client,” avers Mr Manji. He adds that the tenets of treating all clients in the same way have been passed down from the company’s founders and will continue to define Laxmanbhai for years to come. In fact, this principle has been instrumental in guaranteeing repeat clients for Laxmanbhai. “We have managed to grow immensely because of repeat clients,” explains Mr Manji, adding that in the building and construction industry, word of mouth and referrals is more important than just tendering for projects.
It is not hard to see why word of mouth and referrals play a central role in the industry. Though flooded with construction companies, all projects originate from consultants. In Kenya, a handful of consultancy firms dominate major projects. For these firms, working with a seasoned and trustworthy contractor is often the bottomline, with Laxmanbhai being the first choice for many of them owing to the company’s rich history. “We have a very cordial working relationship with consultants and most will not hesitate to choose or recommend us for any project,” says Mr Manji. He adds that while disputes are bound to arise in some projects, having a win-win mechanism of resolving them has been crucial in safeguarding long-term working relationships. This explains why Laxmanbhai has continuously worked with a lean set of consultants in its portfolio of projects.
Iconic Projects
The dominance of Laxmanbhai in Kenya’s building and construction industry is well illustrated by the projects the company has implemented over the years. The company’s name is inscribed on many skyscrapers like Britam Towers, Teleposta Tower, Rahimtulla Trust Tower, Lonrho House, Nyayo House among many others. It also has its name in many five-star hotels like The Stanley, English Point Marina, Villa Rosa Kempinski, Hemingways Hotel Karen, Crowne Plaza Hotel Annexe among others.
Laxmanbhai is also the contractor behind many iconic buildings such as I&M Headquarters, The Hub Karen, Westend Towers, Westgate Mall, UN Office Facility among many others. For institutions and common buildings, a mention of any international school is most likely to evoke the name Laxmanbhai. These range from Brookhouse International School, Gems International School, Aga Khan Academy, Aga Khan University Centre among many more. For residential and apartments, the company is behind such projects as Garden City Residences, Laxcon Court, Bamburi Beach Homes among many others.
For Laxmanbhai, being the preferred contractor for these iconic projects has come by design and through years of pursuit of perfection. Notably, Kenya’s building and construction industry has over the past two decades witnessed significant growth particularly in the commercial and residential segments. Over the period, factors like aesthetics, breathtaking interiors, wide open space, recreation space among others are increasingly being incorporated in building to offer a wholesome experience. For most contractors, it is a challenge to deliver on every attribute beyond the structural aspect of the project. Indeed, the industry is awash with cases whereby clients have been forced to replace contractors midstream or redo whole sections. The case is different for Laxmanbhai. Through training of staff, commitment to detail and investment in the right equipment, the company has always delivered projects beyond the satisfaction of clients.
A case in point was the construction of the 20-storey Lonrho House, a project that was executed in the middle of the central business district while some of the occupants carried on with their businesses. Implementing the project was a monumental undertaking for Laxmanbhai. Despite the complex, delicate and dangerous nature of the job, the company did manage to complete the project in record time and within budget. “Lonrho House was a tough job but is among those that we are proud of delivering,” avers Mr Manji.
Partnership with Government in Affordable Housing
One area of opportunity that Laxmanbhai is determined to exploit is the government’s affordable housing project. This is based on the understanding that the government’s plan to build 200,000 affordable houses annually is not only timely but critical in addressing the severe housing deficit. More importantly, the plan will help address the problem of informal settlements by affording a majority of Kenyans with decent homes. As a company that believes in human dignity, Laxmanbhai intends to partner with the government to advance the housing agenda. “The affordable housing plan is about the country’s socio-development and for that reason we intend to help the government to ensure the goals are realized,” explains Mr Manji. He adds the fact that the government is giving opportunities to local companies is something to celebrate.
Challenges
While Laxmanbhai is undoubtedly a force to reckon with, it has not been an easy journey over the past seven decades. Being older than Kenya, the company has witnessed the political and socio-economic transformation of the country, and contributing at every stage in the development of the construction industry. However, factors like economic upheavals, regulatory environment changes, onset of devolved system of governance among others have brought about significant impacts not only on Laxmanbhai but across the entire building and construction industry value chain. “Economic downtowns for instance make it difficult for clients to access financing for projects and this does affect us,” notes Mr Manji. He adds that building strong shock absorbers, coupled by years of experience, has helped Laxmanbhai weather storms and remain on top of its game.
Ready for the Future
Having grown to become one of the powerhouse contractors in Kenya, Laxmanbhai is confident of the future. The company, which is involved in many corporate social responsibility projects including school feeding programs for the needy and employee empowerment, has no intentions to sit on its laurels. This explains why the company has continued to evolve with the building and construction industry in terms of technology advancement and particularly in the area of sustainability and green projects. “We continue investing in technology and training our staff on the latest developments,” notes Mr Manji. He adds the company is committed to continue enhancing its capabilities to ensure that it remains at the forefront of the industry by providing clients with world-class services.
