In a major boost for Kenya’s construction sector, SmartBuild AI, the country’s first AI‑powered construction planning platform, was officially launched on November 14, 2025.
The platform is designed to help homeowners, developers, and construction professionals make more accurate cost estimates, improve transparency, and streamline project planning.
Tackling Hidden Costs in Construction
Construction in Kenya has long been plagued by cost overruns, unverified pricing, and informal procurement practices. SmartBuild AI aims to change that by using real‑time AI models grounded in local construction data.
The platform can generate material estimates, forecast costs across different phases of a project, and provide a data‑driven “digital quantity surveyor.”
“When you build with information, you build with control. And when you build with control, you build affordably,” said the SmartBuild AI leadership at the launch, highlighting the goal of bringing predictability to building budgets.
SmartBuild Connect: A Marketplace for Professionals
A key feature of the platform is SmartBuild Connect, a marketplace that links homeowners with verified architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, contractors, and materials suppliers.
This peer‑to‑peer component is aimed at formalizing the sector and reducing the reliance on informal referrals.
By connecting users with vetted professionals, the platform also hopes to raise standards in project execution and improve trust in the construction value chain.
Collaboration and Partnerships
At the event in Nairobi, the SmartBuild AI team called on stakeholders across the construction ecosystem to partner with them — from designers and builders to material suppliers and financial institutions.
They are open to collaborations that would deepen the platform’s impact and scale its adoption across Kenya’s rapidly growing built‑environment.
Why It Matters
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Cost Efficiency: By using AI to estimate quantities and costs, SmartBuild AI could significantly reduce waste, over-ordering of materials, and budget surprises.
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Transparency: The data‑driven nature of the tool brings more visibility and accountability to pricing, a long-standing challenge in the local construction market.
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Inclusivity: With the marketplace element, smaller contractors and professionals can access more leads, and homeowners gain better access to trusted experts.
This launch comes at a time when Kenya is pushing aggressively into AI adoption, signaling its ambition to become a regional leader in AI-driven innovation.
Industry Reaction
Built‑environment professionals have welcomed the new platform. Advocates argue that SmartBuild AI could become a “guardrail” that helps keep projects on track, control costs, and reduce disputes.
However, adoption may depend on how well the platform is integrated into existing workflows by builders, contractors, and quantity surveyors — many of whom still rely on traditional estimation methods and relationships.
Next Steps
SmartBuild AI is now open for use in Kenya, with its team seeking to expand partnerships and deepen local data integration.
The firm has already indicated interest in working closely with material suppliers, design professionals, and financial institutions to make the platform more robust and widely adopted.
As it scales, SmartBuild AI could mark a turning point for digitization in Kenya’s construction sector — offering a smarter, more transparent, and more efficient way to plan and build.
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