Category: Building from abroad

Building a home in Kenya while living overseas can be an exciting investment.

You might be working in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia or another country while planning to construct a family home or rental property back in Kenya.

But building remotely creates challenges that homeowners living near their construction sites may not face.

How do you know whether construction is progressing?

How can you verify that materials have been delivered?

Who checks the quality of work before the next payment is made?

And how do you avoid relying entirely on photographs and verbal updates?

The solution is to establish a transparent construction management process before work begins.

This guide explains how to approach it.

1. Start with a realistic construction budget

One mistake you can make when planning construction from abroad is deciding how much to spend before establishing what the proposed house is likely to cost.

For example, you might have saved KSh 8 million and decided that this should be sufficient for your dream home.

But the actual construction cost depends on several factors, including the size of the building, location, structural design and finishing specifications.

A 100 m² bungalow and a 250 m² maisonette have very different requirements.

The first step is therefore to establish a preliminary budget based on the house you want to build.

You can use the MyJenga Construction Cost Calculator to obtain an indicative estimate.

As your project progresses, work with a qualified quantity surveyor to develop a more detailed cost plan.

A quantity surveyor can help identify construction quantities, estimate costs and assess expenditure against the agreed project scope.

2. Make sure your land documentation is in order

Before committing significant money to construction, establish that the property is suitable for your proposed development.

This involves more than confirming that a relative or agent has shown you a particular plot.

Your legal and professional advisers should help verify ownership documentation, applicable restrictions, boundaries and planning requirements.

You should also understand whether the site has practical access to the services and infrastructure your development needs.

Depending on the property, site investigations may identify additional engineering requirements.

For example, challenging ground conditions can affect foundation design and construction costs.

Do not begin construction on the assumption that every plot will accommodate the same building design.

3. Hire qualified professionals before choosing a contractor

A construction contractor is responsible for executing the agreed building work.

However, that does not mean the contractor should be the only professional advising you on design, cost and quality.

Depending on your project, you may need an architect, structural engineer and quantity surveyor.

These professionals perform different functions.

An architect develops and coordinates the architectural design.

A structural engineer addresses the structural engineering requirements.

A quantity surveyor helps with cost planning, measurement and financial administration.

Appropriate professional supervision is especially important when you cannot regularly visit the site yourself.

Before appointing professionals, verify their registration and licensing status.

In Kenya, architects and quantity surveyors are regulated by the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors, while engineers are regulated by the Engineers Board of Kenya.

The National Construction Authority also requires appropriately registered and licensed consultants for construction project registration.

4. Verify your contractor independently

When building from overseas, you may be tempted to hire a contractor recommended by a family member or friend.

Personal recommendations can be useful, but they should not replace independent checks.

Ask prospective contractors for evidence of registration, a current practising licence and experience with projects similar to yours.

The National Construction Authority maintains contractor registration requirements and classifies contractors according to the work they are permitted to undertake.

You should confirm that the contractor’s registration category is appropriate for your proposed project.

Also ask to see examples of completed work.

Where possible, arrange for a trusted professional to inspect previous projects and speak with former clients.

You can read our existing guide on how to choose a construction company in Kenya for more detailed contractor selection advice.

5. Request comparable construction quotations

Obtaining several quotations can help you understand how different contractors intend to price and execute your project.

However, a quotation comparison is only useful when the contractors are pricing substantially the same work.

Ideally, provide each contractor with the same drawings, specifications and Bill of Quantities where available.

Then compare their proposals carefully.

Consider the following hypothetical example:

Item	Contractor A	Contractor B	Contractor C
Quoted price	KSh 9M	KSh 10M	KSh 11M
Kitchen cabinetry	Excluded	Included	Included
External drainage	Excluded	Included	Included
Construction duration	8 months	9 months	9 months
Payment schedule	Large initial advance	Milestone-based	Milestone-based

These figures are fictional and illustrate how to compare quotations. They are not current construction prices.

Contractor A has submitted the lowest headline price, but the proposal excludes work included in the other quotations.

Before deciding, ask for clarification and establish the complete scope and cost of each proposal.

For more information, read our construction quotation comparison guide.

6. Establish a written construction contract

A written construction contract is particularly important when the homeowner lives overseas.

Your agreement should clearly define the work the contractor is expected to perform.

It should also establish how changes, delays, payment claims and disagreements will be handled.

At a minimum, make sure your legal and construction advisers address the project scope, contract price, payment arrangements, construction programme, responsibilities, variations, defects and termination provisions.

The contract should also identify the people authorized to issue instructions or approve changes.

Without clear authorization rules, disagreements can arise over who requested additional work or approved additional expenditure.

Have an appropriately qualified adviser review the agreement before signing.

7. Set up a construction monitoring system

One of the most important decisions you can make when building remotely is how construction progress will be documented.

A WhatsApp group can be useful for communication, but it should not be your entire project management system.

Establish a structured reporting process.

For example, you could request a weekly progress report containing:

Information	What the report should show
Reporting period	Dates covered
Work completed	Construction activities finished
Work in progress	Current activities
Photographs	Dated, identifiable site images
Financial position	Payments and expenditure against budget
Materials	Significant deliveries and outstanding orders
Delays	Problems affecting the programme
Decisions required	Items needing homeowner approval
Next steps	Planned work for the coming period

The objective is to make construction progress observable rather than relying on occasional verbal reassurance.

However, photographs alone cannot establish the quality of concealed structural work.

Your appointed professionals should conduct appropriate inspections and provide independent assessments where required.

8. Use milestone-based payment arrangements

Sending money whenever a contractor requests it can make expenditure difficult to control.

A more transparent approach is to establish payment arrangements tied to agreed construction progress.

For example, the contract might identify stages such as foundation work, structural construction, roofing and finishing.

The precise milestones and payment amounts should be developed for your project.

They should not be arbitrary percentages copied from another homeowner’s construction contract.

Before authorizing a payment, establish whether the relevant work has been completed and whether any required professional inspection or certification has taken place.

Maintain records of invoices, certificates, receipts and transfers.

If materials are being purchased directly by the homeowner, establish how orders, deliveries and payments will be documented.

The goal is to maintain a clear relationship between money spent and work completed.

9. Appoint someone to represent your interests on site

You may have a relative in Kenya who is willing to visit the construction site.

That can be helpful.

However, there is an important difference between someone checking whether workers are present and a qualified professional assessing construction work.

A family member might confirm that a delivery truck arrived or send photographs of the site.

A suitably qualified professional can assess matters within their competence, such as compliance with drawings, specifications and applicable technical requirements.

For diaspora homeowners, an independent professional reporting arrangement may be worth considering.

It can provide an additional source of information separate from the contractor carrying out the work.

Before appointing anyone, agree on their responsibilities, qualifications, reporting frequency and fees.

10. Keep control of construction changes

Changes during construction can affect both cost and time.

You might decide to enlarge the kitchen, change the roof design or upgrade the windows.

Each decision can have financial consequences.

When you live abroad, it is especially important that changes are documented before work proceeds.

A useful process is to request a written description of the proposed change, its cost implications and any effect on the construction schedule.

Your professional team should review the proposal.

Only then should the person authorized under the contract approve the change.

This helps prevent confusion over informal instructions given through telephone calls or messaging applications.

11. Plan your site visits strategically

You may not be able to travel to Kenya every month.

That does not necessarily mean you cannot oversee a construction project effectively.

Instead, coordinate your visits with important project decisions.

For example, you might travel during the design and contractor selection stage, at a significant construction milestone or before final handover.

The most useful timing depends on the project.

A visit is more productive when you know which decisions need to be made and which professionals should attend.

Before travelling, request updated drawings, financial reports, progress photographs and a list of outstanding issues.

This allows you to use your time on site more effectively.

12. Maintain a complete project record

Construction can involve many documents over several months or years.

Keeping everything in scattered email threads and WhatsApp conversations makes information difficult to retrieve.

Create a central record containing your approved drawings, construction contract, BOQ, quotations, invoices, payment records, inspection reports, variation approvals and progress photographs.

Organize documents by category and date.

Keep backups and control access to sensitive financial and property information.

A well-maintained record makes it easier to review decisions, investigate discrepancies and understand the project’s history.

It also helps if you need to change contractors or appoint a new consultant.

13. What if your construction budget runs out?

Budget pressure can arise for several reasons.

The initial estimate may have been incomplete, the project scope may have changed or unexpected site conditions may have increased costs.

If you anticipate a funding shortfall, ask your quantity surveyor and other relevant professionals to establish the cost of completing the remaining work.

Identify outstanding contractual obligations and any work that must be completed to leave the building safe and protected.

Avoid making abrupt decisions about stopping structural or other critical work without professional advice.

You should also review whether the shortfall results from approved variations, cost escalation or discrepancies between the original scope and actual expenditure.

The appropriate response depends on the circumstances.

14. Can you manage construction in Kenya entirely remotely?

Many administrative and financial aspects of a construction project can be coordinated remotely.

You can review quotations, approve documented decisions, receive reports and monitor expenditure while living overseas.

However, construction still requires competent people on the ground.

Physical inspections, professional supervision and appropriate regulatory compliance cannot be replaced entirely by video calls.

The practical objective is therefore not to eliminate local supervision.

It is to create a reliable system that allows you to make informed decisions from abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Can I build a house in Kenya while living in the USA or UK?

Yes. You can coordinate many aspects of a Kenyan construction project while living overseas. However, you will need appropriate local professionals, contractors and arrangements for site supervision.

How can I monitor construction in Kenya remotely?

Establish regular progress reports, dated photographs, financial records, professional inspections and clear approval procedures.

Should I send construction money to a relative?

There is no arrangement that suits every project. Before transferring significant funds, establish who is contractually responsible for the work, how expenditure will be documented and what controls will apply to payments.

Do I need a quantity surveyor?

A quantity surveyor can help prepare cost plans and BOQs, assess contractor quotations and monitor construction expenditure. The NCA also includes quantity surveying documentation among its published project registration requirements.

How do I know whether my contractor is properly registered?

Request the contractor’s registration and current practising licence details, then verify them through the National Construction Authority.

Final thoughts

Building a house in Kenya while living abroad requires planning, transparency and dependable local expertise.

You do not need to personally supervise every delivery or construction activity.

But you do need reliable information about the work being performed, the money being spent and the decisions being made.

Establishing clear contracts, professional supervision and documented reporting arrangements can make the process more manageable.

The earlier you create those systems, the easier it becomes to maintain oversight as construction progresses.

Need someone to assess your site while you are abroad?

Share your site location, construction stage and the questions you want answered. Compare proposals for a progress visit or an assessment by an appropriately qualified professional.

Request a site visit or professional assessment.

Still choosing a builder? Request contractor quotations for the work you are planning.

You have sent money for the next stage, but the latest photos look similar to the previous ones. Your relative says the materials are expensive, the fundis have been delayed and a receipt will follow. You do not yet know which explanation accounts for the difference.

If updates on a family-managed build in Kenya become unclear, start by establishing the facts. Missing records can arise from disorganisation, misunderstandings, genuine site problems or possible misuse of funds. You need evidence to distinguish them.

This guide helps you reset reporting while protecting your ability to make informed decisions. It does not diagnose fraud, determine contractual rights or suggest that a family relationship is proof of wrongdoing.

Write down the gap you need to resolve

Replace “I don’t trust what is happening” with a question that can be answered. Which payment lacks a receipt? Which area has not been photographed? Which claimed stage has no supporting update? Which change has a price you did not approve?

Keep a private list with dates, amounts in KSh and the document or photo you need. Separate a missing fact from a conclusion. “No delivery record received” is different from “the materials were never delivered.”

Gather the records you already control

Collect transfer confirmations, the construction agreement, current drawings, quotations, any bill of quantities, approved changes and previous updates. Preserve original messages and files rather than editing them to fit a theory.

Create a timeline showing money sent, its stated purpose, the claimed work or purchase and the evidence received. Mark items that remain unanswered. Keep family gifts and unrelated personal transfers out of the construction total.

Limit access to people who need the information. Avoid posting allegations, private account details or identifying site information in public groups.

Request one reconciled update

Ask your relative and the contractor, within their respective roles, for a current statement of project spending and progress. Ask for amounts received, documented expenditure, any remaining balance, outstanding commitments and work still to be completed.

Request supplier receipts and delivery records for material purchases, and the required claim or valuation documents for contractor payments. An invoice, a transfer and a photograph each answer different questions; none automatically establishes the complete position.

Use the contractor payment checklist to keep the next claim review separate from the family spending reconciliation.

Make the conversation specific and private

Try: “I am struggling to connect the money sent with the updates received. Please help me reconcile these transactions and send photos of these areas by the date we agree. Let’s list anything that is missing rather than guessing.”

Ask what has made reporting difficult. Your relative may need a simpler format, clearer authority or relief from a task they cannot sustain. Agree what evidence will be supplied and when, and retain a written record of the discussion.

If the response does not address the question, record what remains unresolved. Repeated reassurance is not a substitute for the requested record, but it is not by itself proof of fraud.

Choose an independent review that matches the problem

For unclear visible progress, an authorised photographic visit can record accessible areas and identify what was not viewed. For disputed quantities or cost, discuss a scoped review with an appropriately qualified quantity surveyor. For structural concerns, consult an appropriately qualified engineer.

BORAQS is the Kenyan regulator for architects and quantity surveyors, while the Engineers Board of Kenya portal provides an engineer member-checking route. Confirm current credentials and the actual scope of any appointment.

If the concern involves suspected financial misuse or contractual obligations, seek the relevant accounting or legal advice. A general site visitor cannot audit an account, establish intent or decide a legal dispute.

Reset responsibilities before the next stage

Once you understand the current position, decide which tasks your relative will retain and which need a professional or another contact. Confirm who may instruct the contractor, approve spending, receive records and arrange access.

Use a shared ledger and a fixed update format. Agree how unspent funds, documents and outstanding matters will be handed over if someone steps back. Formal changes to authority or contracts should follow appropriate advice and the agreed process.

Do not assume you can withhold a contractor payment, terminate a contract or recover money simply because an update is incomplete. Clarify your obligations with the relevant adviser and act through the applicable process.

The family construction management checklist can help you write the new arrangement. Our risks and safeguards guide explains what to address for future stages.

How MyJenga can contribute

You can enquire about a photographic site visit with specific questions: which rooms have visible finishes, which accessible areas can be photographed and what remains unseen. A report can give you and your family a separate observation record to discuss with the contractor.

This supports clearer conversations; it cannot guarantee that funds were correctly used, certify hidden work or determine whether somebody has been dishonest. Read what independent site visits can and cannot verify before choosing the scope.

Describe your project and concerns through MyJenga. Suitable providers are invited to propose a progress visit or professional assessment. Compare up to five proposals and choose who visits your site; five is a maximum, not a guarantee of five responses.

Compare the total price including travel, the named attendee, relevant qualifications, agreed checks, exclusions, proposed visit date and report turnaround. Confirm any relationships with your contractor or family contact, and agree authorised access and private report delivery before booking. An enquiry requires no account and does not commit you to a purchase.

Request a site visit →

Before you ask a relative to “handle things at home,” agree what that means. A short written plan can spare both of you repeated questions about money, authority and progress.

This family construction management checklist is for diaspora homeowners building in Kenya. Use it to organise family help alongside your contractor and project professionals. It is a practical discussion guide, not a legal agreement or a substitute for your construction contract.

1. Define the family member’s role

List the tasks they have agreed to perform: arranging site access, gathering supplier quotations, recording deliveries, photographing agreed areas or forwarding documents. Write down how often they can attend and who covers when they are unavailable.

Separate coordination from technical decisions. A relative can help arrange an engineer’s attendance without taking responsibility for assessing reinforcement themselves. They can collect a contractor’s claim without certifying its value.

Use our guide to the risks and safeguards of family-managed construction to identify gaps before assigning tasks.

2. Agree who may instruct the contractor

Name the people authorised to give different kinds of instructions and establish how the contractor receives them. Avoid a situation where several relatives each approve a different finish or request extra work.

Tell the contractor which choices your family contact can make, which require your approval and which require the relevant project professional. Confirm this arrangement with the parties concerned rather than relying on a private understanding that the contractor has never seen.

Record important decisions with a date, drawing or specification reference, cost effect and programme effect. Formal authority or contractual changes may need professional legal advice.

3. Set spending and reimbursement rules

Agree a project-specific spending approval process. Specify which purchases need prior approval, what happens in an urgent situation and how any agreed spending limit is recorded in KSh. There is no universal limit suitable for every family or project.

Distinguish contractor payments, material purchases, transport, the relative’s reimbursable expenses and any agreed compensation. Make clear how each is documented. Do not leave a family member to absorb costs and later guess whether they can recover them.

If you choose to pay a contractor or supplier directly, verify the recipient and agree how the transaction appears in the project records. Direct payment alone does not prove delivery or satisfactory work.

4. Keep one ledger and accessible documents

Use a shared project ledger with the date, purpose, amount received, amount spent, recipient, document reference and remaining balance. Keep the source receipts and transfer confirmations in a folder the homeowner can access.

For materials, record what was ordered, what arrived, delivery date and where it was stored. Distinguish delivery from installation. Ask for an explanation of differences between orders, receipts and reported quantities.

Agree how unspent money, outstanding purchases and incomplete records are handled when the role ends. Keep project spending separate from family gifts and other personal transfers.

5. Make the update routine specific

Agree a reporting schedule, the areas to photograph and a format for the summary. Each update should cover completed work, outstanding work, delays, decisions needed and the next planned activities.

Request wide views from consistent positions and labelled close-ups of the items being discussed. Identify capture dates and preserve original files where practical. Ask the person reporting to say when information comes from the contractor rather than direct observation.

Our remote construction monitoring guide explains how to make updates easier to compare.

6. Plan professional checks separately

Ask the appointed professionals which stages need inspection, testing or valuation and how much notice they require. Record who arranges attendance and how the required documents reach you.

Check relevant current credentials. BORAQS regulates architects and quantity surveyors; the Engineers Board of Kenya portal offers an engineer member-checking route. A family recommendation should be followed by the same credential and scope checks as any other appointment.

Do not ask a relative to approve technical work merely because they are already at the site. Photos and informal reassurance cannot replace the assessment required for your project.

7. Agree how you will handle concerns

Choose a private way to raise missing receipts, inconsistent updates or unexplained costs. Ask for clarification against specific records and give a reasonable agreed date for the response. Keep disagreements out of public family groups.

Separate administrative gaps from technical concerns and contractual disputes. A question about a delivery needs different evidence from a question about a crack or an amount claimed. The next-payment checklist can help organise contractor claim queries.

A short family-role note to adapt

“You will help with the tasks we list and send updates on our agreed schedule. I will retain the project documents and approve spending or changes outside your agreed authority. Purchases and reimbursements will be recorded with supporting documents. Technical assessments and payment certification will remain with the appointed professionals. If either of us needs to change the arrangement, we will agree a handover of records, outstanding matters and any project balance.”

Adapt this discussion note to your circumstances. If it is intended to create formal authority or legal obligations, obtain appropriate legal advice.

Include an independent view where useful

A progress visit can focus on named rooms, visible progress and questions that your existing updates do not answer. A separate observation record can support the family arrangement without asking your relative to assess everything. If your concern requires technical expertise, request a defined professional assessment.

Describe your project and concerns through MyJenga. Suitable providers are invited to propose a progress visit or professional assessment. Compare up to five proposals and choose who visits your site; five is a maximum, not a guarantee of five responses.

Compare the total price including travel, the named attendee, relevant qualifications, agreed checks, exclusions, proposed visit date and report turnaround. Confirm any relationships with your contractor or family contact, and agree authorised access and private report delivery before booking. An enquiry requires no account and does not commit you to a purchase.

A photo visit does not provide accounting oversight, structural certification or a payment valuation. Relevant professional work needs its own scope and appropriate qualifications.

If you need to put these arrangements in place mid-build, read how to reset unclear family-managed construction updates.

Request a site visit →

Your brother is close to the site. Your mother knows someone who can supply materials. Your cousin has offered to check the fundis while you are abroad. Asking family to help can feel like the most natural way to build a home in Kenya.

Family managing your house build in Kenya can make communication and access easier. The arrangement still needs clear responsibilities, spending records and appropriate professional oversight. Trust does not tell you how much work is complete or whether a payment claim matches your agreement.

The risks include both honest mistakes and deliberate diversion of funds. A relative may be overwhelmed by the job, but someone you trust could also exploit the distance to use your money for their own benefit. Clear records and independent checks matter in either case.

The first risk: “manage the build” means different things

You may think your relative will supervise quality, negotiate prices and send receipts. They may think they are only opening the gate and passing messages to the contractor. Neither understanding is useful until you agree which tasks they actually own.

Distinguish your local contact from the contractor and the appointed project professionals. Being available to visit does not make someone qualified to assess structural work, measure completed quantities or certify payment.

A practical starting question is: “What can you reliably do, how often, and what needs someone else?” Agree a manageable role before transferring responsibilities.

Money can become hard to trace

If construction money arrives in a personal account alongside household funds, it may become difficult to explain the project balance. Cash purchases without receipts, advances without a purpose and several people paying the same supplier can make the records harder to reconcile.

Possible misuse of funds is a real concern to address through records and review. A missing receipt or a delay alone does not prove theft. Ask for a transaction record and supporting evidence before drawing conclusions.

Keep a project ledger in KSh showing money received, purchases, payees, supporting documents and the remaining balance. Keep reimbursements, any agreed fee for your relative and gifts separate from construction expenditure. Read the diaspora payment checklist for the wider claim-review process.

Your money could be diverted into a relative’s own house

One serious risk is effectively financing two houses: yours and the relative’s own, without your knowledge or consent. They could use part of the money you send for your project and skim off the rest to fund their own construction. You may still receive photographs of genuine progress, while your house ends up smaller than the agreed plans, unfinished or built with cheaper materials and fittings than you paid for.

In this possible fraud scenario, inflated purchase costs, invented expenses or materials diverted away from your site could conceal where the money went. The existence of a house on your plot would not, by itself, show that all your funds were spent on it or that it matches the specification you approved.

This is a hypothetical example of the risk, not an allegation against a particular family or a claim about how often it happens. But deliberate diversion deserves to be named plainly. Trusting someone because they are family does not remove the possibility that they could misuse construction funds.

To look for discrepancies, reconcile transfers against itemised purchases and delivery records, confirm relevant supplier documents independently, and compare reported progress with the agreed drawings and specification. Ask an appropriately qualified professional to assess disputed dimensions, quantities or valuation. Photographs alone cannot establish where money went, and a general site visit cannot prove fraud.

Informal decisions can change the house and the budget

A different tile, an extra room or a supplier substitution can look like a small practical decision on site. Together, changes can affect the specification, cost and programme. The homeowner may discover them only after money has been spent or work is complete.

Set out who may approve purchases and variations, how approvals are recorded and which decisions must come back to you. Changes requiring technical input should follow the project’s professional review process.

A family contact can gather options and explain a decision needed. That does not have to include authority to change the design or agree an extra cost.

You may receive reassurance instead of useful evidence

“Everything is fine” may be intended to spare you worry. It still leaves you unable to compare progress with last week’s update. A few photographs of the front elevation can miss unfinished or inaccessible areas elsewhere.

Ask for consistent views, dates, room labels, outstanding work and questions that need your answer. Keep contractor statements separate from what the person reporting actually saw. The guide to monitoring construction from abroad includes a weekly update message you can copy.

Family loyalty can complicate supplier choices

A relative may recommend a trusted friend or another family member. That can be useful, but the relationship should not replace a written scope, comparable quotations, relevant credentials and clear payment terms.

Ask about connections to suppliers and contractors, including any referral benefit. Record why a provider was selected and who approved the choice. Apply the same information requirements to every candidate.

For comparable pricing, see how to compare construction quotations. A low total is difficult to assess without knowing what it includes.

The relationship can carry too much pressure

A relative may be fitting site visits around work, childcare and other commitments. You may expect immediate replies across time zones. Unpaid help can become a substantial responsibility without either person discussing its limits.

Agree expected availability, expenses, any compensation and what happens if they need to step back. Make it easy to say, “I cannot check that” or “We need a professional.” Those answers are more useful than confidence unsupported by evidence.

Safeguards that protect both of you

Put the family role in writing, keep records accessible to the homeowner and use a predictable update schedule. Identify who approves changes and who handles technical assessments. Include a handover plan if the arrangement ends.

Our next article provides a family construction management checklist. If the build is already underway and the records are unclear, read how to reset the reporting process.

Where MyJenga can help

An independently arranged photographic site visit can add a separate record of accessible visible work. Your relative can remain the local contact while the report helps you ask more specific questions about progress and areas not viewed.

A visit cannot audit your relative’s accounts, establish dishonesty, certify structural safety or determine an amount payable. Cost, technical and legal concerns require the relevant separately scoped professional advice. Learn what a site visit can actually verify.

Describe your project and concerns through MyJenga. Suitable providers are invited to propose a progress visit or professional assessment. Compare up to five proposals and choose who visits your site; five is a maximum, not a guarantee of five responses.

Compare the total price including travel, the named attendee, relevant qualifications, agreed checks, exclusions, proposed visit date and report turnaround. Confirm any relationships with your contractor or family contact, and agree authorised access and private report delivery before booking. An enquiry requires no account and does not commit you to a purchase.

Request a site visit →

When you are building in Kenya from abroad, an independent visit can give you a clearer record of what is happening on site. But “check my house” can mean several different things: photograph progress, investigate a crack, measure completed work or confirm whether a contractor’s claim is payable.

Independent construction site visits in Kenya need a clearly agreed scope. The visitor’s qualifications, site access and available documents determine what they can assess. A photographic progress visit should describe observations and uncertainties without presenting them as professional certification.

What a photographic progress visit can show

Within agreed access and safe conditions, a visitor can record the construction stage, photograph specified accessible areas, describe visible work and note areas that were not accessible. They can also record questions raised during the visit and identify who supplied each answer.

A useful report labels rooms or elevations, gives the visit date and connects observations to your questions. “Bedroom two photographed; floor finish visible; adjoining bathroom locked and not viewed” tells you more than “finishing progressing well.”

The report should distinguish something the visitor saw from something the contractor said. A statement about a concealed pipe remains an attributed statement unless an appropriate assessment provides supporting evidence.

What it cannot establish on its own

An ordinary non-invasive photo visit cannot certify structural safety, assess concealed reinforcement, prove concrete strength, confirm electrical safety, establish land ownership or decide the amount contractually due to a contractor.

It also cannot give a complete account of everything that happened between visits. Visible materials may be photographed, but ownership, specification, quantities and suitability may require records, measurement or specialist checks beyond the agreed scope.

A clean-looking wall is an observation about appearance. It is not proof that the structure behind it matches the approved design. A photograph with a date or location label is useful context, but the label alone is not independent authentication.

Choose the visit around your actual question

If you want to see which rooms have been plastered, a photographic visit may help. If you want to know whether a beam is safe, explain the concern to an appropriately qualified engineer. If you need completed quantities or a payment valuation assessed, discuss that with the quantity surveyor or person responsible under your contract.

Professional tasks need an explicit appointment, appropriate credentials, access and supporting information. A provider calling a service an “inspection” does not by itself define what will be examined or certified.

For credential checks, use the relevant regulator: BORAQS for architects and quantity surveyors and the Engineers Board of Kenya portal for engineers. Confirm current practising status and whether the appointment covers your question.

Questions to ask before booking

Ask who will attend, their role and qualifications, which areas will be visited, whether measurements or tests are included, and what documents they need. Confirm travel costs, site-access arrangements, exclusions and the agreed report delivery date in the quotation.

Ask who instructs the visitor and who receives the report. Disclose relevant relationships with the contractor or project team. Independence depends on the actual arrangements, including conflicts of interest and control of the report, rather than a marketing label.

Agree how an inaccessible area, cancelled visit or concern requiring a specialist will be handled. Do not assume a nationwide service area, fixed fee or same-day report unless it has been confirmed for your booking.

Arrange permission and useful access

Confirm that the visitor is authorised to enter and that someone can provide safe access to the areas requested. Share the location and site contact privately through the agreed channel. Tell the visitor about restrictions before travel is arranged.

Send your questions in advance: “Please photograph the kitchen and bathrooms and record which finishes are visible” is more useful than “make sure everything is okay.” Supply the relevant drawing or specification where it helps identify the area, without assuming the visit includes a technical compliance review.

Do not ask a visitor to enter unsafe areas or open up completed work without the required permission and professional arrangements.

What a useful report should contain

The following is a suggested report outline, not a sample from an existing MyJenga customer:

• Visit date, attendee and agreed scope.
• Areas accessed and areas not viewed, with reasons.
• Labelled photographs linked to specific locations.
• Visible observations, separated from statements supplied by others.
• Answers to your original questions, including unanswered points.
• Matters to raise with the contractor or an appropriate professional.
• Limitations and any separately agreed follow-up.

Keep the report private and retain it with your project records. Agree who may receive it and how photos containing people, neighbouring property or identifying details will be handled.

How to use the report

Compare the observations with your previous updates and ask specific follow-up questions. If an area was not accessible, arrange appropriate access rather than treating it as checked. If the report raises a technical concern, engage the relevant specialist; a general visitor should not diagnose a structural defect from appearance alone.

For ongoing organisation, use our guide to monitoring construction from abroad. For an upcoming claim, read the diaspora contractor payment checklist. Payment decisions still follow your agreement and the required professional review.

Request the right kind of visit

Describe your project and concerns through MyJenga. Suitable providers are invited to propose a progress visit or professional assessment. Compare up to five proposals and choose who visits your site; five is a maximum, not a guarantee of five responses.

Choose Progress visit, Professional assessment or Help me choose in the enquiry form. Explain whether you need a photographic record or answers about structural work, workmanship, quantities or costs. The provider must state the exact questions they can assess and who will attend.

Compare the total price including travel, the named attendee, relevant qualifications, agreed checks, exclusions, proposed visit date and report turnaround. Confirm any relationships with your contractor or family contact, and agree authorised access and private report delivery before booking. An enquiry requires no account and does not commit you to a purchase.

Enquiries are welcome from all 47 counties, subject to suitable provider availability. Agree private delivery with your chosen provider; reports are not published to the community or automatically shared with your contractor.

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Your contractor asks for the next payment just as you are starting your working day abroad. There are photos, a message about rising material costs and a request to send money quickly. You want the house to keep moving, but you also want to understand what you are paying for.

This contractor payment checklist for Kenyan diaspora homeowners helps you organise that conversation. Use it alongside your construction agreement and advice from the professionals appointed to your project. It does not determine whether a payment is legally due.

1. Identify what the payment request covers

Ask for a written claim showing the work, materials or agreed advance being requested, the amount in KSh and the relevant contract provision or milestone. “Next stage” is too broad if you cannot tell which activities it includes.

Separate completed work from materials on site, materials still to be purchased and future labour. These may have different treatment under your agreement. Do not assume that everything shown in a photograph belongs to your project or is payable at that point.

2. Read the agreed payment terms

Check how claims are submitted, who reviews or certifies them, the payment deadline and the process for queries or disputes. Check any agreed advance recovery, retention or other deductions with the person administering the contract.

There is no universal percentage that every homeowner should release at foundation, roofing or finishing stage. A lump-sum milestone arrangement, a labour-only agreement and a measured-work contract can operate differently.

If you are unsure about an obligation or considering delaying a payment, seek project-specific contractual advice promptly. Missing information is a reason to raise a clear query; it does not automatically cancel a payment deadline.

3. Compare the claim with the agreed scope

Use the current drawings, specification, quotation and bill of quantities where applicable. Ask the contractor to identify the location and extent of the work claimed. For a milestone described as complete, list any associated work still outstanding.

For example, “windows complete” could mean frames delivered, frames installed or glazing and fittings finished. Agree what completion means in your documents rather than assuming you and the contractor mean the same thing.

Our building contractor quotation checklist can help you spot scope details that need clarification.

4. Ask for evidence that matches the claim

Request dated, labelled photographs of the claimed areas, relevant delivery records and the inspection, testing or valuation documents required for that work. Ask about areas missing from the update.

Photos of roof sheets do not show every connection underneath. An invoice records a supplier’s charge; it does not by itself prove delivery, installation, ownership or compliance with the agreed specification. Treat each document as evidence of a particular thing, with limits.

A photographic site visit can record accessible visible conditions. Where the question concerns quantities, valuation or technical quality, arrange an appropriately scoped professional assessment. See the limits of an independent site visit.

5. Reconcile previous payments and changes

Ask for a cumulative statement showing the claimed total to date, previous payments, approved changes and the new amount requested. Compare it with your own bank or transfer records.

Keep original contract work and variations identifiable. For each change, record what was requested, who approved it, the agreed price and any programme effect. An informal instruction to upgrade tiles can otherwise become an unexplained extra later.

Distinguish a change already approved from one still being discussed. If the records disagree, send a specific written query referencing the item and supporting documents.

6. Involve the right project professional

If your agreement requires a valuation or certificate, obtain it from the appointed person through the agreed process. For quantity or cost questions, ask a suitably qualified quantity surveyor about the scope of review needed. Our guide explains the role of a quantity surveyor.

BORAQS is the Kenyan regulator for architects and quantity surveyors. Confirm the professional’s current credentials and appointment rather than assuming a site visitor can certify a claim.

7. Confirm the recipient and keep the record

Check that the payment destination matches the agreed recipient. If new bank or mobile-money details arrive, confirm them using a contact method you already trust, rather than relying only on the message containing the change.

Record the amount, currency, date, reference and purpose. Keep any foreign-exchange and transfer charges separate from the KSh amount credited against the construction claim. Ask for acknowledgement so both records can be reconciled.

A message you can send before the next payment

“Please send the claim breakdown in KSh, the contract milestone or items it covers, dated photos of those areas, any required inspection or valuation documents, and a cumulative statement showing previous payments and agreed variations. Please also list outstanding work and the contractual payment date so we can resolve queries through the agreed process.”

If the update still leaves questions

Write down the precise gap: an unseen room, a material delivery without a receipt, a change with no agreed price or a claim without the required review. Ask who will address it and by when. Keep the conversation factual; incomplete reporting alone does not establish dishonesty.

For a disputed claim, involve the relevant contract administrator or professional adviser. For a clearer record of visible progress, consider an independent visit. A visit report supports questions; it does not authorise withholding or releasing money.

To improve the next update, read how to monitor construction in Kenya from abroad.

Need someone to look at the site?

Tell MyJenga which areas you want recorded and whether your concern involves technical quality, quantities or a payment valuation. A photographic update and a professional assessment serve different purposes.

Describe your project and concerns through MyJenga. Suitable providers are invited to propose a progress visit or professional assessment. Compare up to five proposals and choose who visits your site; five is a maximum, not a guarantee of five responses.

Compare the total price including travel, the named attendee, relevant qualifications, agreed checks, exclusions, proposed visit date and report turnaround. Confirm any relationships with your contractor or family contact, and agree authorised access and private report delivery before booking. An enquiry requires no account and does not commit you to a purchase.

A visit report does not authorise withholding or releasing money. Payment decisions follow your agreement and any required professional review.

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You finish work, open WhatsApp and find six new photographs of your house in Kenya. The walls look higher. Your contractor says the next stage is ready. But which rooms are shown, what has changed since last week, and what still needs checking?

To monitor house construction in Kenya from abroad, you need a repeatable way to connect updates to the agreed work, programme and payment records. More photos help only when you can understand what they show.

This guide is for Kenyan diaspora homeowners whose projects are already under construction. You can use it to organise updates whether you live in the UK, US, Canada, the Gulf or elsewhere.

Start with one shared project file

Keep the current drawings, specifications, signed construction agreement, bill of quantities where available, programme, approved changes and payment records in a folder you control. Give each revised document a date and version so everyone knows which instructions apply.

Store documents outside the WhatsApp conversation too. A voice note agreeing to a different finish is easy to forget when the next invoice arrives. Follow important calls with a short written record of the decision, its cost and any effect on timing.

If your paperwork is incomplete, list what is missing and ask the relevant project professional to help establish the current position. Our contractor quotation checklist explains the scope details worth making explicit.

Decide who does what on the ground

Name the person responsible for daily updates, the person authorised to agree changes and the professional responsible for each technical review. Confirm who can give instructions on your behalf and the limits of that authority.

A relative may help with access or photographs. That does not automatically make them responsible for assessing reinforcement, valuing completed work or signing off an electrical installation. Give them a clear, manageable role.

Check the credentials of professionals you appoint. BORAQS regulates architects and quantity surveyors in Kenya; the Engineers Board of Kenya portal provides a member-checking route for engineers. Confirm current registration and practising status for the work required.

Ask for the same progress update each time

Agree an update schedule that fits the pace of the site, plus separate notifications before work that needs professional inspection is covered up. A weekly summary can be a useful starting point; it is not a substitute for supervision at critical stages.

Ask each update to identify the reporting period, work completed by room or area, work still outstanding, materials delivered, delays, decisions needed and the next planned activities. Compare it with the previous update and the agreed programme.

Replace broad statements such as “roofing done” with specific ones: which sections are complete, what remains, and which professional checks are still pending? A short, precise update is easier to act on than a long message full of reassurance.

Make photographs easy to compare

Request wide views from consistent positions, followed by labelled close-ups of the work being discussed. Ask for the capture date, room or elevation and a short explanation of what changed. Keep original files where practical.

For example, a caption might read: “Kitchen, east wall, photographed on 4 October; plastering complete on this wall, window reveals unfinished.” This is an example caption, not a report from a MyJenga customer.

A live video walkthrough can help you ask questions about areas missing from the photo pack. Neither a video call nor a date or location label proves workmanship, hidden construction or the value of a payment claim.

Plan checks before work disappears from view

Ask your appointed professionals which stages require their attendance and how much notice they need. Reinforcement before a concrete pour, services before walls are closed, and systems requiring testing are examples of matters to discuss with the relevant specialist.

Do not try to approve technical work from a few phone images. A later visit may be unable to assess what has already been concealed. If you receive an urgent request to approve such work, contact the responsible professional and clarify the inspection arrangements.

Keep progress and payment records connected

Maintain a simple register of claims, amounts paid in KSh, dates, agreed changes and supporting documents. Separate what the contractor says is complete from what has been observed and what has been professionally assessed.

If you are building gradually from savings, agree how pauses, storage, site protection and restarting work will be handled. Our guide to building a house in phases covers the wider planning questions.

Before the next transfer, use the diaspora homeowner’s payment checklist. Your construction agreement determines the payment process; a photographic update alone does not establish an amount due.

A weekly update request you can copy

“Please send this week’s update by area: work completed, work outstanding, dated and labelled photos, materials delivered, delays, decisions you need from me, and next week’s plan. Please identify any work that needs professional inspection before it is covered. Include the documents supporting any payment request separately.”

When independent eyes on site can help

An independent photographic visit can help when updates are unclear, you have not seen a particular area, or you want a fresh record of accessible visible work. Agree the questions and access arrangements before booking.

For cracks, suspected structural problems, disputed quantities or payment valuation, explain the concern first so an appropriately qualified professional can be involved. Read what a construction site visit can and cannot verify before choosing the scope.

Want a clearer picture of your project?

Describe your project and concerns through MyJenga. Suitable providers are invited to propose a progress visit or professional assessment. Compare up to five proposals and choose who visits your site; five is a maximum, not a guarantee of five responses.

Compare the total price including travel, the named attendee, relevant qualifications, agreed checks, exclusions, proposed visit date and report turnaround. Confirm any relationships with your contractor or family contact, and agree authorised access and private report delivery before booking. An enquiry requires no account and does not commit you to a purchase.

A progress visit records accessible visible work. Technical assessments require the appropriate professional scope; photographs do not certify structural safety or determine a contractor payment.

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Your relative says the build is going well. Your contractor says the next stage is complete. Both may be telling you what they believe to be true. But if those are your only sources of information, who is separately checking the work and explaining what remains uncertain?

An independent construction review in Kenya can give a diaspora homeowner another source of evidence. The reviewer should have a clearly agreed role, appropriate competence and no undisclosed interest in the construction work or the family arrangement being reviewed.

Being outside the family and contractor team is a useful starting point. It does not automatically make someone qualified or independent. You still need to check who appoints them, who pays them, their relationships and what they are actually being asked to assess.

Why the contractor’s update is not an independent review

Your contractor is responsible for delivering the agreed work and explaining progress. Their updates, records and inspection arrangements are important. They also have a commercial interest in payment and acceptance of that work.

That does not make every update unreliable. It means a contractor’s statement about their own work serves a different purpose from a separately appointed review. Where your agreement requires a professional assessment or certificate, follow that process rather than replacing it with the contractor’s reassurance.

A person employed by the same contractor should not be presented as an independent reviewer merely because they have a different job title.

Why a family contact cannot provide every check

A relative can help with access, deliveries and communication while you live abroad. They may know the site well and care deeply about the outcome. They may also be choosing suppliers, handling funds or passing instructions to the contractor.

If that same person is the only one reporting whether their own purchases and decisions were appropriate, you have no separate view of those activities. Family loyalty, embarrassment about mistakes or an undisclosed supplier connection could affect what reaches you.

There is also the serious possibility of deliberate diversion of funds. As our family-managed construction risks article explains, someone could skim money from your build to finance their own house. A separate observation record may reveal questions about progress, but establishing where money went requires financial records and the appropriate review.

Independence is about the actual relationships

Before appointing a reviewer, ask whether they work for, receive referrals from, or have a personal or financial connection to the contractor, suppliers or family members coordinating the project. Ask them to disclose relationships that could affect the assessment.

A reviewer recommended by the contractor may still be suitable, but the recommendation alone is not evidence of independence. Confirm the arrangements yourself and retain the right to choose another provider.

Agree that the report goes directly to you. The contractor and your local contact can provide access and factual explanations, but should not control whether you receive the report or require observations to be removed before delivery.

Choose the right kind of reviewer

“Verify my build” is too broad an instruction. Decide what question you need answered before choosing the person.

A photographic progress visit can record accessible visible work, labelled photographs and areas not viewed. It cannot certify structural safety, hidden construction, quantities, financial integrity or an amount payable.

A professional assessment addresses specified concerns within the professional’s competence and agreed scope. Structural questions, measured quantities and cost valuation require different expertise and may require drawings, measurements, testing or other records.

Check relevant current registration and practising credentials through BORAQS for architects and quantity surveyors or the Engineers Board of Kenya portal for engineers. Independence and qualifications are separate checks: you need both for the professional task you are commissioning.

Give the reviewer a specific brief

For a progress visit, identify the rooms or areas you want photographed, the claimed stage and the gaps in existing updates. Ask the report to separate direct observations from statements supplied by others and to list inaccessible areas.

For a professional assessment, agree the question, documents, methods, deliverables and exclusions before the work starts. Confirm the named attendee, relevant credentials, total price including travel, proposed date and report timing.

If measurements or tests are necessary, confirm whether they are included. A visit to the site does not mean every component has been inspected or every claim verified. Read what a site visit can and cannot verify before choosing the scope.

Keep the arrangement clear with your family and contractor

You can explain: “I want a separate record of the agreed areas so we all have the same information. You will continue in your existing roles, and the reviewer will report the observations and limitations directly to me.”

Arrange authorised, safe access and explain what documents or attendance the reviewer needs. A review does not automatically change anyone’s contractual responsibilities or give the reviewer authority to instruct the contractor.

If findings are disputed, ask for the evidence and the relevant professional explanation. A photograph, a disagreement or an incomplete record does not by itself prove fraud. Contractual and financial disputes require the appropriate advice and process.

How MyJenga can help you clarify the next step

Describe your project and concerns through MyJenga. Suitable providers are invited to propose a progress visit or professional assessment. Compare up to five proposals and choose who visits your site; five is a maximum, not a guarantee of five responses.

Compare the total price including travel, the named attendee, relevant qualifications, agreed checks, exclusions, proposed visit date and report turnaround. Confirm any relationships with your contractor or family contact, and agree authorised access and private report delivery before booking. An enquiry requires no account and does not commit you to a purchase. A platform introduction alone does not establish independence or professional suitability. Explain any relationships the reviewer should be independent of in your enquiry, and check relevant credentials and conflicts before choosing.

For ongoing coordination, use the family management checklist. If reporting has already become unclear, see how to establish the current position.

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