NOTICE

Dubbed ULTRA SPAN the new environmentally friendly and relatively affordable roofing truss has been developed by the two firms with the aim of the stemming the use of wooden roofing trusses and ultimately curbing environmental degradation caused by logging.
A truss is a frame made of pieces of wood or metal used to support a roof or bridge.
The new roofing structure is custom made for a two bed roomed house complete with a roof will retail for an estimated Ksh 160,000. (US$1975) A high end custom made structure will retail for around Ksh 600,000. (US$7407)

Speaking during the launch of the product, Mabati Rolling Mills Chairman Dr. Manu Chandaria said the idea of coming up with the product had been borne out of a need to create affordable shelter for the poor and vulnerable.
He noted that by using ULTRA-SPAN- a light gauge steel truss system- housing contractors and developers can now offer a cost effective, strong, long lasting, environment friendly, easy to erect roof truss system.
"If we can harness the energies of our employed youth to distribute and erect these structures, these too can be a good source of mass employment for our youth" he said.
Speaking at the launch where Equity Bank also signed a partnership for a credit extension facility with MRM to enable Kenyans access the environmentally friendly roofing materials Equity Bank CEO Dr. James Mwangi termed the global housing situation as a crisis adding that it is a challenge that requires concerted efforts by both the public and private sector.   
"Whereas shelter is so basic it is unfortunate that billions of people around the world cannot afford it yet they need it like any of us. By its very nature housing represents a major investment requiring substantive capital outlay simply because of technology and materials we have used in the past," he said.
He hailed the new roofing system as revolutionary adding that only technological innovation would unlock Kenya's housing challenge.
Noting that the cost of mortgage remained way above the reach of many Kenyans due to the high cost of housing Dr Mwangi said Equity Bank would now be able come up with a financing package to help as many Kenyans acquire decent housing.
"This new product will go a long way in bringing affordable housing closer to majority of Kenyans living in informal settlements especially in areas that do not have decent housing," he said.
Epco Builders Limited Managing Director, Mr. Ramji Varsani said the new product provided immense opportunities for the Kenyan building and construction industry.
"By replacing conventional wood our forest covers will be protected," he said.
Mr. Stephen Fray, Group MD, MiTek Australia said Kenya marks an important focal point for the company adding that it would form the basis for the firm's operations in the East African region.
Safal Mitek is a joint venture between Mabati Rollings Mills limited and Mitek Industries limited South Africa. Mitek has licensed Safal Mitek limited for the distribution and manufacture of the roofing products in Kenya and most of the Comesa region. 
Technology has often been trumpeted as key in unlocking the housing crisis facing Kenya today and analysts have severally noted that alternative and cheaper ways of building if adopted can in turn bring down the cost of housing in Kenya.
All players in the sector have therefore often been urged to come together and explore cheaper building solutions that can in turn lower cost of property.