A clearing agent for building materials serves a trade where volume is high, margins are thin and regulators are watching closely, because substandard materials have been linked to building collapses. Steel, tiles, roofing, sanitaryware, cement and fittings all move through Mombasa in large quantities, and each comes with its own standards. Here’s how to keep your imports compliant and on schedule.

High Volume, High Scrutiny

Kenya’s National Construction Authority has documented thousands of unsafe buildings and numerous collapses, with substandard cement and steel identified as leading technical causes. That history is why KEBS surveillance and import verification are intense in this category. If you import building materials, assume your cargo will be checked and your supplier’s certification will be tested.

Different Materials, Different Standards

Steel reinforcement, structural steel, roofing sheets, tiles, bricks, aggregates, glass, sanitaryware and cement each have their own Kenyan standards, summarised in our construction materials guide. Don’t accept a supplier’s general claim that goods are “to international standards.” Ask for test reports and certification specific to the Kenyan standard for each product line, and arrange pre-export verification so the Certificate of Conformity is in hand before shipment.

Verify Before You Stock

For cement, KEBS has published an SMS verification service: send ISM# or SM# with the code under the standardisation mark to 20023 to confirm a product’s authenticity. Only about 38% of cement samples tested in a 2022 KEBS surveillance exercise met standards, and cartels have been caught repackaging genuine cement, as our cement import guide explains. Build verification into your receiving routine, and learn the marks using our KEBS marks guide.

Bulk Handling and Heavy Haulage

Building materials are heavy and often bulky, so port handling and inland trucking drive cost. Bulk commodities and long steel sections may need specialised handling, as covered in our bulk and breakbulk guide, and every truck must comply with axle load limits or risk being held at a weighbridge. Plan delivery to site alongside the clearance, not afterwards.

The Duty Backdrop Moves, So Confirm at HS Level

Kenya has repeatedly applied higher rates through EAC-approved stays on products such as iron and steel, and the EAC’s gazettes, including changes effective from 1 July 2026, can alter treatment. Standards-related costs also matter: manufacturers using imported inputs may bear the KEBS Standards Levy. Don’t price a large order from last year’s rates; get the current HS-level position first and run it through our landed cost formula.

Documentation Pack for Building Materials

Itemised invoice by product, grade and size
Mill test certificates or lab reports for steel and cement
Certificate of Conformity, with ISM application details
Certificate of Origin, export declaration document, Advance Cargo Declaration reference
Packing list with weights per bundle or pallet
Local marine cargo insurance certificate

For mixed containers of fittings and finishes, itemise each line and agree classification in advance.

Working With Clearon Logistics on Building Materials

We help importers confirm product-specific standards, arrange verification at origin, itemise classification and plan heavy haulage, so cargo clears cleanly and reaches site on time.

Importing steel, tiles, roofing, cement or fittings? Talk to Clearon Logistics before you place the order, and we’ll confirm the standards and costs that apply to each line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all building materials need KEBS certification? Most regulated categories do, through pre-export verification and the Import Standardization Mark, but requirements differ by product. Confirm per line.

How can I check whether cement is genuine? Send ISM# or SM# followed by the code under the standardisation mark to 20023 and KEBS will reply with the product’s status.

Why can trucks carrying building materials be held on the road? Heavy loads must comply with axle load limits, and overloaded or poorly distributed trucks can be held at weighbridges.

Is duty on steel fixed? No. Rates can change through EAC stays and annual gazettes, so confirm the current HS-level position before pricing a large order.