Construction and Infrastructure Tenders Kenya 2026: NCA, KeNHA, KURA, Affordable Housing — Complete Guide
Everything Kenyan contractors and construction firms need to win government tenders in 2026 — NCA registration, KeNHA road contracts, KURA urban roads, Affordable Housing Programme, county infrastructure.
Kenya's construction and infrastructure sector is the largest single category of government procurement, estimated at KES 250-350 billion annually. This covers roads (KeNHA, KERRA, KURA), affordable housing (State Department for Housing, NMS), water infrastructure (WASREB, county water boards), government buildings (NG-CDF, county governments), and institutional construction (hospitals, schools, police posts). For registered contractors, this is the deepest opportunity pool in Kenya's procurement ecosystem.
NCA registration is the non-negotiable foundation for construction tenders. The National Construction Authority classifies contractors from NCA Class 1 (KES 500M+ projects) down to NCA Class 8 (KES 3M and below). Each class determines which tender values you can bid on. For SMEs starting out, NCA Class 5 (up to KES 50M) or Class 6 (up to KES 20M) is a realistic starting point. Requirements include NEMA compliance, a registered engineer on your team, and completed works references matching your target class.
KeNHA (Kenya National Highways Authority) manages Class A, B, and C roads — the major national highways. KeNHA contracts range from road construction and rehabilitation to routine and periodic maintenance. Routine maintenance contracts (termed 'performance-based maintenance') are particularly accessible for mid-tier contractors — they run 3-5 years, provide predictable revenue, and are awarded by region, so geographic proximity gives you an advantage. KERRA (Kenya Rural Roads Authority) manages rural roads and actively uses AGPO-reserved contracts for youth, women, and PWD contractors.
The Affordable Housing Programme is one of the most active construction procurement programmes in Kenya as of 2026, with NMS Nairobi, Boma Yangu Programme, and county governments all tendering for construction of affordable units. These contracts require: NCA registration of appropriate class, valid NEMA EIA approval for the site, workers insurance (WIBA), performance security (usually 10% of contract value as bank guarantee), and health and safety plan. Housing unit construction contracts range from KES 20M for small county projects to KES 2B+ for NMS Nairobi blocks.
Three common disqualifications in construction tenders: (1) NCA certificate for wrong category — if you registered as a building contractor but bid for civil works, you are out; (2) Non-current AGPO certificate — AGPO certificates must be renewed and valid at submission date; (3) Missing site visit attendance — many construction tenders have mandatory site visits and record attendance; missing the site visit disqualifies you automatically regardless of bid quality. TenderAI monitors KeNHA, KERRA, KURA, NMS, county procurement portals, and the PPRA notice board daily — register to get construction tenders before the 14-21 day deadline window closes.