Diaspora building
Managing contractors when you live abroad
Many Kenyans abroad have a painful story — or know someone who does — about money sent home for a house that didn't progress as reported. Distance makes construction harder, but it doesn't have to make it riskier. The key is replacing trust-by-default with a system of verification.
Common traps
- Relying on a relative or friend with no construction experience to supervise.
- Sending money in advance based on photos you can't verify.
- Having no written contract, drawings or agreed specification.
- Buying materials through the contractor without checking deliveries.
- Communicating only by phone, with nothing written down.
Set up the project properly
- Secure the land documents and confirm ownership and boundaries before anything else.
- Get approved drawings and a priced Bill of Quantities.
- Sign a written contract with a clear scope, price, programme and payment schedule tied to milestones.
- Appoint independent oversight — someone who reports to you, not the contractor.
Control the money
Pay against verified milestones only. Where possible, pay suppliers directly for major materials, or have deliveries checked and signed for by your supervisor. Keep every transaction traceable — bank transfers and M-Pesa records rather than cash.
Communicate with structure
Agree a regular reporting rhythm — for example, a written report with photos after every visit, and a video call at key milestones. Time zones make spontaneous calls hard; a predictable schedule works better for everyone.
Visit strategically
If you can travel home once or twice during construction, plan visits around important stages — before the first slab, or at roof level — rather than at random.
The goal is not to distrust everyone. It's to have independent evidence, so trust is based on facts.
Our Build Back Home service is designed for exactly this situation.
This article is general guidance for property owners in Kenya and is not a substitute for professional advice on your specific project. Regulations, requirements and prices change — confirm current details with the relevant authority or professional.
