Why Mahesh & Tirth Construction Limited Scooped Contractor of the Year Award

TheKenyan construction industry is not for the faint hearted. It is crowded with many companies competing for projects. Building a name can be an uphill task, more so considering the negative perception facing the industry due to persistent incidents of defective buildings. While getting to the top is difficult, maintaining leadership is even harder owing to the fast changing dynamics in the industry.

One company that has defied the status quo in the country’s construction company is Mahesh and Tirth Construction Limited (M&T). In less than a decade, the company has caused significant disruptions by going against the norms of longevity to emerge as the top construction firm. From its humble beginnings in 2013, M&T is today one of Kenya’s premier building construction and civil engineering companies. This was affirmed after M&T was named the Overall Contractor of the Year Award 2023 and the Best Contractor for Building Works during the recent Construction Excellence Awards held by industry regulator, the National Construction Authority (NCA).

“We have only been around for eight years but our reputation in the market is unrivalled,” says Mahesh Jani, M&T Director. Making inroads in the industry and emerging as the best contractor is no mean achievement for the relatively young company. However, it has not come easily. Rather, it has been achieved through years of strategic actions anchored on core values among them integrity, quality work, teamwork and passion for M&T to become a top contractor.

While its core values define M&T, the clear strategy in project implementation that is grounded on quality work, cost effectiveness and delivering projects on time and on cost has made the company the first point of call for developers mainly in the commercial and industrial buildings market segment. Moreover, adequate investments in latest equipment and technology, a young and vibrant team of employees majority of whom are under 40 and the determination to build long lasting partnerships has ensured that jobs are always flowing for M&T.

“We are a versatile company with a reputation for outstanding quality workmanship, which has broadened our focus with new fields of specialization, modern technologies and we have maintained continued success by looking forward in offering best services to our clients,” explains Mahesh, who is one of the two directors of M&T, both of whom boast over 55 years of experience in the construction industry both locally and internationally.

Projects

This is evident from the growing number of projects in the company’s fold. Over the past four years alone, M&T has completed a total of 15 projects cutting across industrial, commercial, hospitality and institutional developments. Among them are the Alp North Logistics Park located at Tatu City. M&T was commissioned for the development of the state-of-the-art park, a project that was well crafted and whose scope involved intensive study of production line techniques and incorporation of state-of-the-art packaging facilities and sophisticated fire safety installations. The ability for M&T to execute the project beyond expectations saw it scoop the best Logistics Park Award at the Africa Properties Award Show in South Africa in 2018.

Other projects include the Alp West Tilisi, an ultra-modern Grade A warehouses and godowns facility, Saj Ceramics Showroom located at Ridgeways, Tune/Ibis Style Hotel, Champaign Ridge Holiday Home, extension of Olympic School and St. Andrews School Turi among many others. “One thing that stands out in our projects is that we implement them on time and on budget,” states Mahesh.

While these traits of workmanship are inscribed in nearly all of its projects, they have been immortalized by M&T’s latest project, The Cube office block located on Riverside Drive. A prestigious state-of-the-art office block, The Cube is nothing short of exquisite and breathtaking development that has significantly brought a new dimension of commercial buildings along the high-end Riverside Drive that is already home to the Australian, Netherlands, German and Danish Embassies and also hosts headquarters of major commercial banks such as Prime Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and CFC Stanbic. The location is also popular among multinationals like BBC News, Thales East Africa, Dow Chemicals, Sumitomo Corporation, GIZ, Pioneer Hi-Bred Kenya Limited and Jetro.

James Ng’ang’a, The Cube Project Manager, explains that The Cube is an ultra-modern exclusive prime ‘Grade-A’ office development that comprises six floor office totaling approximately 77,876 square feet of modern environmentally sensitive office space. Constructed at a cost of KSh800 million, the office complex offers high quality office accommodation designed to international standards offering occupiers a secure, highly efficient and flexible working environment.

The building offers a grandiose outdoor breakout terrace on the ground floor, generous onsite parking with an excellent parking capacity of 36o cars, main power connections with 500 KVA and 300 KVA backup generators, three high speed passenger lifts and highest standards in security incorporating access control to each floor, 24-hour security and provision for CCTV surveillance.

Other amenities include fibre-optic connectivity and full trunking for data/power/voice, borehole, electric fence and fire alarm & detection system. More importantly, The Cube has achieved Advanced EDGE green building certification standards with 41 percent reduction in energy consumption, 50 percent reduction in water consumption and 21 percent reduction in energy embodied in materials. It also represents unrivalled commitment to the environment with the key sustainability features like high thermal performance glazing, LED efficient lighting for all lighting, lighting control systems, Solar PV system and high efficiency flush/flow fixtures.

Notably, M&T broke ground on the project in January 2021 and completed it in November 2022 as per the agreed delivery timeline and within budget. “We had a clear program of works that made sure the project was implemented as per the requirements of the client,” says Ng’ang’a. He avers that despite encountering challenges like Covid-19 disruptions, rising costs of materials, bad weather and logistics bottlenecks, M&T did not lose focus of its obligation to the client.

“Our approach and attitude played big roles in delivery of the project,” adds Mahesh. This was critical owing to the fact that being the main contractor, M&T was working with a big team including consultants. Working in harmony while seeking to address challenges amicably was thus essential in delivering a high quality project. “The final project is an iconic building which is eye-catching,” he states.

Principles

While success has come in a relatively short span, M&T intends to continue riding on its principles for continuous growth. Part of its sacrosanct principle is integrity. Despite being in an industry where tendencies for shortcuts, using substandard materials, price undercutting when bidding for jobs and shoddy jobs are rampant, the company operates on a resolve on non-compromise on integrity. Being an NCA-1 Contractor, abiding by the rules and regulations is a fundamental trait of the company. “We follow the rules and regulations to the letter,” explains Mahesh, adding that even when dealing with public officials, being uptight on integrity has greatly enhanced the company’s reputation in the market. He adds that the company’s ultimate goal is to exceed clients’ expectations by maintaining the highest level of professionalism, integrity, honesty and fairness in its relationships with suppliers, subcontractors, partners, professional associates and customers.

Looking Ahead

Though M&T believes that continuous growth is assured, emerging challenges in the building and construction industry are casting a dark shadow on the entire industry. With Kenya experiencing severe macroeconomic headwinds like a depreciating local currency, high inflation, high costs of doing business coupled by external shocks like the Russia Ukraine war, the local industry is not immune. Luckily for M&T, having many repeat clients means jobs will keep flowing. For the company, which strongly believes in corporate social responsibility and is involved in among others school feeding programs and making donations to drought afflicted areas, the sky is the limit.