Kenyan home-finishes retailer opens Dar es Salaam showroom as construction demand outruns supply
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A Kenya-based tiles and sanitaryware company has opened a Dar es Salaam showroom, with Tanzania Building Agency officials saying demand for construction materials now exceeds local production capacity.
Growing demand for construction materials, driven by investment in housing, commercial properties and hospitality facilities, is drawing foreign businesses into Tanzania, with a Kenya-based company the latest to open a showroom in Dar es Salaam.
The company, which deals in tiles, sanitaryware, taps, kitchen fittings and other home-finishing products, is trading from a Tile & Carpet Living in Style showroom and plans to sell products sourced both locally and internationally. Its entry comes amid increased construction activity in residential, commercial and hospitality property, creating openings for suppliers and domestic manufacturers seeking access to a growing market.
Tanzania Building Agency architectural section manager Godfrey Mwakabole said rising demand for accommodation and related infrastructure had been reinforced by the relocation of government operations to Dodoma and preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. He said more people were investing in property development, converting houses into Airbnb accommodation and building hotels to capitalise on tourism and international conferences.
"Currently, demand for construction materials exceeds local production capacity. Therefore, the entry of the Kenyan company will help complement the efforts of existing suppliers and manufacturers in meeting market demand," Mwakabole said.
Tile & Carpet Living in Style director Chirag Sanghrajka said the company intended to work with Tanzanian manufacturers by giving them space to sell products through the showroom, an arrangement that could give local producers access to customers through an established retail outlet. He said the business, which has operated for more than 100 years and has a presence in Kenya, Rwanda, Dubai and Zanzibar, first wants to understand the local market before considering production in Tanzania. "We need to learn the ropes; we need to crawl before we can start walking," he said.
Sanghrajka also raised concerns about the quality of building materials in African markets, arguing that consumers who buy mainly on price can be exposed to substandard products.