Building your own home is one of the biggest investments many Kenyan families ever make. It often happens in stages, over months or years, and frequently while the owner lives elsewhere, sometimes in another town or even abroad. That makes a house under construction especially vulnerable. Materials disappear, tools go missing, deliveries arrive short, and progress is slower and more expensive than planned.

This guide is written for individual self-builders: families building a home in Kitengela, Ruiru, Juja, Syokimau, Ngong, Kiserian, their rural home or anywhere else in Kenya. It explains the risks and gives practical, affordable steps to protect your investment. For larger commercial projects, see our guide to construction site security in Kenya.

Why a house under construction is a target

Step 1: Fence the plot early

A perimeter is the foundation of security. If you cannot build the permanent wall first, put up temporary iron-sheet hoarding with a single lockable gate. Close any gaps, and make sure the gate can be locked at night. Once the permanent wall goes up, add a topping and lights. See perimeter wall and gate security.

Step 2: Build a lockable store first

One of the smartest early investments is a small lockable store: a strong room, container or temporary structure where cement, tools, cables and fittings are kept. Store keys should be held by as few people as possible, ideally the owner and one trusted supervisor.

Step 3: Put a guard on site at night

Most theft from a house under construction happens at night. A trained, supervised night guard who patrols the site is usually the single most effective measure. Avoid relying only on a casual watchman who sleeps in a half-built room with no supervision or relief. See hiring a home security guard and our manned guarding services.

Step 4: Control deliveries

Delivery shortfalls are one of the most common losses for self-builders. Protect yourself:

1. Order from reputable suppliers and get a delivery note for every load
2. Ask the guard or a trusted person to count items as they are offloaded
3. Photograph each delivery and send the photo to yourself
4. Record the delivery in a notebook or the guard’s occurrence book
5. Move materials into the store or a watched area immediately

Step 5: Keep a simple stock register

A stock register shows you exactly what has arrived, what has been used and what should be on site.

Check the register on every visit. Unexplained gaps are an early warning.

Step 6: Manage workers

• Keep a daily list of workers on site, with names and phone numbers
• Know who your fundi or foreman has hired, and ask for IDs
• Close the site gate during working hours and record visitors
• Check bags or vehicles leaving the site if your arrangement allows
• Pay workers fairly and on time, which reduces disputes and temptation

Step 7: Watch the site remotely

If you live far away, remote monitoring helps. Solar-powered CCTV cameras with mobile data can send footage to your phone, letting you check progress and security from anywhere. See solar CCTV cameras in Kenya and our CCTV monitoring services.

Step 8: Light the site

Solar security lights over the gate, store and material stacks make it harder for thieves to work unseen. See security lighting for homes.

Step 9: Protect the site during pauses

Many self-builds pause while funds are raised. An idle site is easy to raid. During pauses:

• Move valuable materials to the lockable store or off site
• Keep the gate locked and the guard in place if possible
• Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on the site
• Visit at unpredictable times

Step 10: Increase security at finishing stage

Finishing materials such as tiles, sanitary ware, electrical fittings, doors and windows are expensive and easy to carry away. Consider 24-hour cover during finishing, fit doors and locks early, and install fittings only when the house can be locked. After handover, keep a guard until you or tenants move in.

Security by construction phase

Common mistakes self-builders make

• Relying on a casual watchman with no relief or supervision
• Accepting deliveries without counting
• Leaving cement and cables in the open “just for tonight”
• Giving store keys to too many people
• Leaving the site unguarded during pauses
• Reducing security at finishing stage, when materials are most valuable

Worked example: a family home in Kitengela

A couple working in Nairobi were building a four-bedroom home in Kitengela on weekends. Early on, cement and steel went missing regularly, and one delivery of roofing sheets arrived short. They put up iron-sheet hoarding with a single gate, built a lockable store, and hired a supervised night guard with relief cover. The guard counted deliveries and recorded them in the occurrence book, and the couple installed a solar camera over the store viewable on their phones. Losses stopped showing up in the stock register, and the couple could check the site on weekday evenings without driving out.

For Kenyans building from abroad

Building from the diaspora adds distance and trust challenges. Consider a professional project manager or quantity surveyor, a licensed security provider with written reports, remote CCTV, and a trusted local person who visits unannounced. Insist on photos of every delivery and regular stock reports.

How Bestcare Security can help

We provide supervised night guards, relief cover, delivery checks and CCTV for homes under construction in Nairobi and surrounding counties. For self-builders who live far away, we can provide written reports and help set up remote monitoring. Learn more about our residential security services.

Working with your fundi or contractor on security

Your fundi or contractor is on site far more often than you are, so their cooperation matters. Agree security responsibilities in writing at the start: who holds store keys, who receives and counts deliveries, how workers are registered, and who is responsible for tools and equipment. Ask the contractor to report any losses immediately rather than at the end of a phase. Make it clear that the stock register will be checked regularly. A good contractor welcomes these controls because they protect their reputation too.

Where possible, pay for materials directly to suppliers rather than giving large amounts of cash to the fundi to buy them. This keeps a clear record of what was ordered and delivered, and reduces disputes.

Questions to ask before hiring site security

1. Are your guards vetted, trained and supervised at night?
2. Will there be relief cover when the guard is off or sick?
3. Will the guard count and record deliveries?
4. How will you report to me if I live far from the site?
5. Can you add solar lighting or CCTV?
6. What happens if materials go missing on your guard’s shift?

Clear answers to these questions tell you whether a provider understands the realities of securing a house under construction.

Frequently asked questions

How do I protect a house under construction?

Fence the plot, build a lockable store, hire a supervised night guard, control deliveries, keep a stock register and consider solar CCTV.

Is a casual watchman enough?

Often not. Casual watchmen are usually unvetted, unsupervised and have no relief cover, creating gaps.

How can I stop delivery shortfalls?

Count every delivery on arrival, photograph it, record it and check it against the delivery note.

Can I monitor my site from abroad?

Yes. Solar CCTV with mobile data lets you view the site on your phone, and a licensed provider can send written reports.

When is a house under construction most at risk?

During finishing, when small, valuable materials are on site, and during pauses when the site is idle.

Should I keep a guard after the house is finished?

Yes, until you or tenants move in, to prevent fittings being removed.

Do I need lighting on a building site?

Yes. Solar lights over the gate, store and materials make theft harder.

How can Bestcare Security help my self-build?

Call 0709 004 600 for a free site visit and a security plan for your project.

Related reading

• Home Security Checklist for Nairobi Homeowners: 40 Things to Check
• Perimeter Wall and Gate Security in Kenya: A Homeowner's Guide
• Electric Fence vs Razor Wire in Kenya: Which Is Better for Your Home?

Explore our residential security services or see all our security services in Kenya.