The Handshake Trap on Kenyan Building Sites#
In Kenya, finding someone who claims to be a painter is remarkably easy. Walk into any neighbourhood hardware store or ask a friend, and within an hour you will have five phone numbers for local fundis. The conversation is almost always pleasant, informal, and swift: a quick stroll around the house, a casual nod, and a quote: "Boss, hii kazi nitakufanyia na fifty thousand pekee" (Boss, I will do this whole job for just fifty thousand).
Three weeks later, the pleasant relationship has collapsed. The painter has asked for four cash advances, paint drips cover your imported porcelain tiles, the ceiling paint is streaky and see-through, and the contractor has disappeared to another site.
Hiring an architectural painting contractor is not a casual favour; it is an engineering contract. To protect your property, your sanity, and your hard-earned money, you must interview contractors with the precision of a professional project manager.
Question 1: "What exact surface preparation is included in your price?"#
If a painter answers: "Tutaingia tu na kupaka rangi" (We will just come in and apply paint), show them the door immediately.
A competent contractor must itemize their preparation: will they scrape peeling margins? Will they rake out cracks into V-grooves? What type of filler will they use—brittle white cement or flexible acrylic filler? Will they sand with dustless equipment? Will they apply an alkali-resistant primer? Surface preparation is where 60% of the true labour lives.
Question 2: "What specific paint brand, product line, and number of coats will you apply?"#
Never accept a vague phrase like "quality silk paint." Demand the exact brand (e.g. Sienna Paints Kenya), the exact product line (e.g. Washable Acrylic Silk Emulsion), and the exact number of coats.
Without this in writing, rogue applicators purchase the cheapest budget contractor emulsion in unmarked containers, pour it into an expensive branded bucket, and pocket the difference.
Question 3: "What is your water dilution policy?"#
This is the question that terrifies dishonest painters. Ask directly: "How much water do you add to each 20-litre drum?"
Manufacturers formulate high-solids emulsions to be applied either undiluted or with a maximum of 5% to 10% clean water on the first coat for suction control. Dishonest applicators routinely dilute paint with 30% to 50% water. The paint spreads like water, looks fine while wet, but leaves an ultra-thin dry film that chalks off when touched and fails to cover stains. A professional contractor never dilutes beyond the manufacturer’s technical data sheet (TDS).
Question 4: "How will you protect my floors, windows, and electrical fittings?"#
Amateurs use old newspapers that slide around, soak through, and tear when stepped on. Professional painting contracting services use heavy-duty canvas drop cloths or corrugated Correx floor protection boards taped at every seam, and remove or mask all electrical switch plates with blue painters tape.
Question 5: "What is your milestone payment schedule?"#
Never pay 100% upfront. A fair and professional commercial payment structure aligns with verifiable project milestones:
- 30% Deposit: Upon mobilization, site masking, and delivery of verified paint materials.
- 30% Progress Payment: Upon complete surface preparation, crack filling, and successful primer inspection under raking light.
- 30% Substantial Completion: Upon full application of all topcoats.
- 10% Retention: Paid 7 to 14 days after final snagging sign-off and complete site clean-up.
