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By Mercy Kachenge
Nairobi, Kenya: Jumba, Africa’s largest digital marketplace for construction materials, has launched a new mobile application aimed at transforming how builders and homeowners source construction materials in Kenya.
The Jumba App, seeks to address long-standing challenges in the construction supply chain such as price inconsistency, unreliable suppliers, and delivery delays.
“Our mission is simple: to make building easy,” said Kagure Wamunyu, CEO and Co-Founder of Jumba. “Whether you’re a developer managing multiple projects, a homeowner building your first house, or a Kenyan in the diaspora, Jumba gives you confidence that what you order is what you get in time and at the right price.”
The app allows users to access a wide range of verified suppliers, compare prices in real time, and place orders directly from their phones. It brings together major suppliers such as Crown Paints, Tuff Steel, Tononoka, Jumbo Steel, Comply Industries, Abyssinia, Mzito, National Cement, Dewalt, Blue Nile, and Bamburi, creating a one-stop shop for construction materials.
Kenya’s construction industry, which contributes about seven percent to the country’s GDP, remains one of the most fragmented sectors. Builders often rely on informal networks and inconsistent quotations, leading to delays and inflated project costs.
By consolidating verified suppliers on a single platform, Jumba aims to increase transparency, reduce inefficiencies, and lower costs through real-time price comparison and guaranteed delivery tracking.
According to Wamunyu, the app not only simplifies sourcing but also helps build trust between suppliers and buyers through verified listings and transparent transactions.
Founded in 2022 as a B2B platform connecting developers to structural material suppliers, Jumba has expanded to serve individual homeowners and small-scale builders. The company’s pivot comes amid growing smartphone adoption and increasing confidence in digital commerce in Kenya, with over 30 million smartphone users according to the Communications Authority of Kenya.
The new app, currently available within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, will soon expand to all 47 counties as part of Jumba’s plan to build a more efficient and data-driven construction supply chain.
Industry observers say the platform could have a wider impact beyond convenience. By digitizing procurement, Jumba is creating data insights that can inform pricing trends, inventory planning, and construction demand across regions.
“Platforms like Jumba are not just digitizing sales,they’re improving visibility and planning across the entire construction ecosystem,” said Jane Mwangi, a supply chain analyst.
The company’s integrated logistics system ensures materials are delivered “on time and in full,” a promise aimed at reducing the costly delays that affect project timelines.
As Jumba scales, its broader vision is to build Africa’s most trusted construction marketplace, one that simplifies sourcing for everyone from large developers to families building their first homes.
“In Africa, 90 percent of homes are built, not bought,” Wamunyu said. “We want to make sure that process is transparent, affordable, and efficient for every builder.”
The app marks a key step in Jumba’s expansion strategy and reflects the growing integration of technology into Kenya’s
